In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia unleashed one of the largest aerial assaults of the war on Ukrainian cities overnight between June 6 and 7, 2025, killing at least five people and injuring dozens.
The barrage, involving nearly 500 drones and missiles, was widely seen as Moscow’s response to Ukraine’s daring drone strikes on Russian air bases the previous weekend, which damaged or destroyed a significant portion of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet.
Ukraine’s bold strike on Russian airfields
On June 1, 2025, Ukraine executed an unprecedented operation, codenamed ‘Spider’s Web,’ targeting four Russian air bases – Olenya in Murmansk, Belaya in Irkutsk, Ivanovo, and Dyagilevo. The meticulously planned assault involved smuggling 117 first-person-view (FPV) drones into Russia, concealed in trucks and mobile wooden sheds, and launching them from close proximity to the targets.
Ukrainian officials claimed the strikes hit 41 aircraft, including nuclear-capable Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, with an estimated $7 billion in damages. Satellite imagery and drone footage later confirmed significant destruction, particularly at Olenya and Belaya, where at least 12 aircraft were damaged or destroyed, some loaded with cruise missiles ready for deployment against Ukraine.
The operation, overseen by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and personally supervised by President Volodymyr Zelensky, exposed vulnerabilities in Russia’s air defenses and dealt a symbolic blow to Moscow’s military prestige. Zelensky hailed the attack as brilliant, stating it demonstrated Ukraine’s ability to strike deep into Russian territory and push Moscow toward diplomacy. However, military analysts noted that while the strikes disrupted Russia’s long-range aviation capabilities, they were unlikely to alter President Vladimir Putin’s strategic objectives.
Russia’s retaliatory onslaught
Russia’s response was swift and devastating. On June 6, 2025, Moscow launched a massive barrage of 407 drones, 38 cruise missiles, and six ballistic missiles targeting cities across Ukraine, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv. The Ukrainian Air Force described it as one of the largest drone assaults of the conflict, second only to a 500-drone attack the previous weekend.
In Kyiv, air defense systems and machine guns roared through the night as drones and missiles struck residential areas, igniting fires in apartment buildings and leaving streets littered with debris. At least three people, including emergency service workers, were killed in the capital, while two others died in Lutsk and Chernihiv.
The following day, June 7, Russia intensified its attacks, focusing on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, located just 19 miles from the Russian border. Mayor Igor Terekhov described the assault as ‘the most powerful attack’ on Kharkiv since the war began in February 2022, with at least 40 explosions rocking the city and killing five people. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the strikes, stating that Russia was attacking civilians in retaliation for its losses. President Zelensky called for increased international pressure on Moscow, urging the United States and Europe to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses.
Russia’s Defense Ministry framed the attacks as a direct response to Ukraine’s ‘terrorist acts,’ specifically citing the airfield strikes. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the conflict as ‘existential’ for Russia, signaling Moscow’s intent to escalate further if provoked.
Ongoing tensions
The tit-for-tat strikes came amid stalled peace talks in Istanbul, where Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met on June 2 but failed to agree on a ceasefire. Ukraine demanded an unconditional end to hostilities and the return of prisoners and abducted children, while Russia proposed a limited two-to-three-day truce to collect fallen soldiers’ bodies. Both sides accused each other of delaying agreed-upon prisoner and body exchanges, further dimming hopes for de-escalation.
Ukraine continued its offensive operations, striking additional Russian targets, including the Savasleyka air base in Nizhny Novgorod and a drone manufacturing facility in Cheboksary, 800 miles from the border. These attacks aimed to disrupt Russia’s ability to sustain its aerial campaign. Meanwhile, Russian forces advanced in Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv regions, with the Kremlin citing the creation of a ‘buffer zone’ as a strategic goal.
Strategic implications
Ukraine’s airfield strikes showcased its growing capability to conduct sophisticated, long-range operations, leveraging innovative tactics to bypass Russia’s air defenses. The operation forced Moscow to reconsider its air defense deployments, potentially stretching resources thin across its vast territory. However, Russia’s retaliatory strikes underscored its willingness to escalate civilian-targeted attacks, raising fears of further devastation as the war enters its fourth year.