Key facts
- Ukraine launched drone strikes targeting St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, hitting a defense ministry facility and oil depots.
- Russia reported intercepting 339 Ukrainian drones over a 13-hour period across 13 Russian regions.
- A Ukrainian drone strike in Russia's Bryansk region killed one person.
- A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and sparked a fire at a sea terminal in the Russian port of Temryuk.
- Ukraine confirmed an attack on the Chonhar Bridge using domestically produced drones.
- Water supply to parts of Russian-controlled Donetsk was cut after a Ukrainian strike on energy infrastructure.
- Russian forces bombarded Sumy with artillery, killing at least six civilians and injuring 52.
- A Russian drone struck a spent nuclear fuel storage facility near Chornobyl, causing structural damage.
- A Turkish fishing boat sank in the Black Sea near Crimea after an attack, resulting in one fatality.
- Ukrainian drones have reportedly struck or entered the airspace of several NATO member states since March.
Ukraine has escalated its drone warfare, launching significant barrages targeting various locations across Russia and Russian-occupied territories. In St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, strikes hit a defense ministry facility and oil depots, temporarily disrupting operations at Pulkovo Airport. President Zelenskyy confirmed that the strikes were aimed at Russian navy arsenals, occurring hours after President Putin rejected peace talks. Ukraine also confirmed an attack on the Chonhar Bridge, a vital link between occupied Crimea and southern Ukraine, using domestically produced Fire Point and Behemoth drones. Additionally, a Ukrainian drone strike in Russia's western Bryansk region killed one person and injured others. Another drone attack in the southern Russian port of Temryuk killed one person and ignited a fire at a sea terminal, targeting Russia's energy infrastructure. Water supply to parts of Russian-controlled Donetsk was cut after a Ukrainian strike on energy infrastructure, affecting power to a water treatment plant and impacting several cities.
Russia has responded with widespread strikes across Ukraine. On June 12, Sumy was bombarded with artillery, part of broader attacks that killed at least six civilians and injured 52 in the past day, targeting regions including Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Kharkiv. Russia's Defense Ministry reported intercepting a large number of Ukrainian drones, claiming to have destroyed 339 over a 13-hour period across 13 Russian regions, including Moscow, and the Black Sea, leading to flight suspensions. A Russian drone struck a spent nuclear fuel storage facility near Ukraine's Chornobyl power plant, causing structural damage but with stable radiation levels and no reported injuries. These Russian strikes occurred following Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory.
These escalating aerial attacks underscore the ongoing conflict and the expanding reach of both Ukrainian and Russian military operations. The drone incursions into Russian territory, including near Moscow and other strategic locations, aim to disrupt Russian logistics and infrastructure, while Russia's retaliatory strikes continue to target Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure. The conflict's impact extends to civilian populations and vital services, as seen in the casualties in Sumy and the water supply disruption in Donetsk. Ukraine's confirmed use of domestically produced drones highlights its efforts to bolster its defense capabilities. The attacks have also raised concerns about potential incursions into NATO territory, though EU countries have refrained from condemning Kyiv's actions.
Russia's flagship economic forum in St. Petersburg was overshadowed by the drone attacks, impacting its intended showcase of economic strength. Separately, a Turkish fishing boat, DURU 67, sank in the Black Sea near Crimea after an attack, resulting in one fatality and four injuries. While the perpetrator has not been identified by Turkish authorities, Ukrainian forces are active in the region.