Russia Escalates Strikes on Ukrainian Cities: Targeting Civilians, Children, and Infrastructure
Overnight, Russian forces launched another wave of attacks across Ukraine, striking cities from Chernihiv to Kherson. The assault—carried out primarily with drones and guided bombs—targeted civilian infrastructure and residential areas, killing at least five people and injuring dozens more. The attacks underscore Moscow’s continued strategy of terrorizing population centers far from the front lines.
Chernihiv: A Toddler Among the Dead
In the northern city of Pryluky, Chernihiv region, a Russian drone strike claimed five lives, including a 16-month-old child, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. Rescuers reported six others injured, with multiple residential homes, garages, a utility building, and a car damaged in the attack. The strike caused no known military casualties, further reinforcing Russia’s pattern of targeting non-military zones in civilian areas.
Kharkiv: Seventeen Injured in Slobidskyi District
Kharkiv, frequently a target due to its proximity to the Russian border, endured another night of violence as drones struck the Slobidskyi district. Seventeen people were injured, including four children. Residential buildings sustained damage, and emergency psychologists were dispatched to assist residents suffering trauma from the attack. The assault adds to Kharkiv’s ongoing devastation as the city remains a persistent target of long-range Russian strikes.
Odesa region: Attack on Children
Russia’s latest attack on the Odesa region has once again exposed the cruelty of its tactics, with deliberate strikes on a hospital, a youth creativity center, and a lyceum — all spaces dedicated to the safety, growth, and development of children. Odesa is far from the front lines, making it impossible to claim that Ukrainian military forces were using these sites. There is no strategic justification — only a clear intent to terrorize and inflict lasting harm on Ukraine’s youngest and most vulnerable. By targeting institutions that nurture health, imagination, and learning, Russia is waging a war not just against a country, but against its future.
Kherson: Strike on Symbolic Administrative Center
At approximately 05:30 on June 5, a guided aerial bomb struck the Kherson Regional State Administration building—one of the city’s most prominent landmarks. The historic structure, once occupied by Russian forces and later featured in photos of Kherson’s liberation, sustained heavy damage. The strike also hit five nearby apartment buildings, an educational institution, and an administrative structure in the city center, according to regional officials. While no casualties were immediately reported, the attack on a symbolic seat of regional governance demonstrates Russia’s ongoing attempt to erase signs of Ukrainian control.
Sumy: Destroyed private houses and cars
Overnight, the invaders attacked a settlement in the Sumy region using Iranian-made “Shahed” drones. Several homes were badly damaged, with windows blown out and roofs torn apart by the blasts. Civilian cars parked nearby were also hit, some completely destroyed. Emergency crews quickly arrived at the scene, and thankfully, no injuries have been reported. Local officials are still working to assess the full extent of the damage.
Context: A War That Targets Civilians
The June 5 attacks coincide with continued Russian efforts to demoralize Ukraine’s civilian population and erode national resilience through targeted violence. The strikes followed a reported 75-minute phone call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, in which Trump declined to condemn the ongoing attacks, despite extensive civilian damage. His silence sends a dangerous signal, allowing Russia to escalate its war on civilians without fear of Western reprisal.
As summer begins, Ukraine faces a widening air war deep in its territory, with frontline towns and liberated cities alike subject to the daily threat of drone and missile strikes. The Kremlin’s strategy is clear: destroy what cannot be conquered. The human toll continues to mount.
