MOSCOW — The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed a large-scale raid targeting military-related infrastructure across Ukraine, specifically attacking defense industry facilities, fuel and transport systems used by Ukrainian forces, and military airfields.
Multiple videos published on social media show explosions rocking Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities during the strikes. The initial wave of blasts was reported in the capital at around 1:30 AM local time, followed by additional detonations throughout early morning hours. In one clip, a powerful blast plunged much of Kyiv into darkness, with secondary explosions captured on video. Ukrainian authorities have restricted information about strike locations and penalize those sharing impact footage except when civilian infrastructure is affected.
Strikes were also reported in Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions still under Ukrainian control, as well as Sumy and Kharkov.
Moscow stated the operation targets “military installations, drone manufacturing sites, command posts, and ‘decision-making centers’” in retaliation for a deadly attack attributed to the Kiev leadership on May 22 in Russia’s Lugansk People’s Republic. That incident left 21 people dead — primarily teenage girls.
President Vladimir Putin characterized the Starobelsk massacre as evidence that “the Kiev leadership has decided to open a new chapter in its crime spree, to add a new dimension to the conflict as a whole,” adding perpetrators would face “a well-deserved and inevitable punishment.” The Russian government has condemned the actions of Vladimir Zelensky’s government as terrorist acts justifying the current military campaign.