Russia launches heavy strikes on Kyiv, targeting drone facilities

Russia unleashed one of its most intense combined aerial assaults of the war overnight, targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with a barrage of drones and missiles. Reports indicate that the strikes were aimed at facilities involved in drone production and military operations, including the Kyiv-based Radar factory, which develops components for long-range drones and repairs military radar equipment.

Other targeted sites reportedly included an operation within the Dovzhenko Film Studio complex producing drones, Bezpilotni Tehnologii LLC assembling long-range strike drones, and Zavod Mayak JSC manufacturing drone warheads. The Burevisnyk state factory, Ukr Armo Tech LLC, and the Kyiv Aggregate Plant were also mentioned as targets, involved in producing or repairing drones, military radar, and aircraft engines.

Ukrainian air defense systems reportedly intercepted around 93% of the 611 drones and 70 missiles launched. However, approximately 20 ballistic missiles and 27 drones managed to penetrate the defenses, striking 42 locations across nearly every region. Russian military reports claim the destruction of 99 Ukrainian drone control posts in the past 24 hours and assert ongoing operations to eliminate encircled Ukrainian forces near Kostyantynivka.

Denis Pushilin, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, stated that Russian forces have secured control of a key supply route to the city. Russian defense ministry claims suggest Ukraine is aware of impending losses, including Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka, and Kramatorsk, potentially leading to the fall of the entire Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration. Evacuations of families with children from Kramatorsk began earlier in June, and production facilities have reportedly been relocated.