Kyiv [Ukraine], June 7 (HBTV): Russia launched a massive strike on Ukraine, firing over 400 drones and 40 missiles across multiple regions, killing at least six people and injuring dozens more, CNN reported, citing a Ukrainian official.

The attack affected nine regions across Ukraine, including Kyiv, Lviv, and Sumy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the assault as one of the largest since the beginning of the war.

According to the Ukrainian State Emergency Service, three firefighters were killed in Kyiv, two civilians in Lutsk, and one person in Chernihiv.

Following the strikes, President Zelensky confirmed that Russia had used over 400 drones and 40 missiles in the overnight barrage, calling it one of the most extensive attacks of the conflict. He stated that the offensive targeted ‘almost all’ of Ukraine, from the western region of Lviv to northeastern Sumy.

CNN reported that while Russia has conducted near-daily strikes throughout three years of full-scale war, this wave of attacks came after Ukraine’s bold operation last Sunday, which struck more than a third of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers.

In a phone call with his US counterpart Donald Trump on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would respond to Kyiv’s actions.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence stated that the strikes were in retaliation for what it termed as Kyiv’s ‘terrorist acts.’ It remains unclear whether this attack represents the full extent of Russia’s response or if further escalation is planned. Following Ukraine’s recent operation, several pro-Kremlin commentators called for a more severe response, including potentially nuclear retaliation.

Despite the intensity of Friday’s assault, residents in Kyiv told CNN they remained resilient and continued to support Ukraine’s military response.

‘It didn’t break us at all. The morale is as high as it was. We strongly believe in our armed forces,’ said Olha, a 39-year-old from Kyiv, who declined to provide her surname.

She added that the so-called retaliation was not unusual compared to previous attacks: ‘Maybe this was the retaliation, but maybe the retaliation is yet to come. Either way, it doesn’t change our attitude towards the enemy or towards our country.’

(ANI)