Kyiv faced a barrage of ballistic missiles shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered diplomats to leave the city. On June 2, thick smoke enveloped the Ukrainian capital as residents were advised to seek safety underground. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed a fire at an apartment block caused by debris from a nearby building. It is unclear if there were any injuries.
Locals were reportedly trapped under rubble near the building while seeking refuge in subway stations equipped with sleeping bags. Klitschko reported fires in open areas and damaged cars in the Obolon district. The Ukrainian Air Force warned of incoming missiles earlier in the day, prompting citizens to find shelter.
Russia launched attacks on Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia following missile launches from the Caspian Sea towards Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky had cautioned about a potential significant Russian strike. Russia had advised foreign nationals to leave promptly and cautioned civilians to avoid certain locations.
The missile strikes are believed to be retaliatory for a drone attack in Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Luhansk region. Russia claimed 21 deaths from the attack, a claim Ukraine vehemently denied.