Russia’s massive night attack, plans to seize eastern Ukraine: June 6 highlights

Russia’s massive attack on Ukraine

Overnight into June 6, Russian forces struck Ukraine with 407 drones, including Shahed UAVs, and 45 missiles, including Kalibr cruise missiles launched from southern Russia around 3 a.m. By evening, six deaths were reported in Kyiv, Lutsk, and Chernihiv, including firefighters in Kyiv. At least 80 people were injured, with damaged apartments and rail infrastructure.

Russia’s Defense Ministry called the attack a response to Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, which targeted Russian airfields.

Ukraine’s Defense Forces attacked Russian airfields "preemptively"

Ukraine’s Defense Forces hit Russian military infrastructure, including the Engels and Dyagilevo airbases, in a preemptive strike.

The operation, which destroyed 41 Russian aircraft, aimed to disrupt Moscow’s strategic aviation.

OP: Russia plans to seize all of the Dnipro left bank and the south

Deputy Presidential Office head Pavlo Palisa told Politico during a Washington visit that Russia plans to occupy all of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and create a buffer zone in northern Ukraine by the end of 2025.

By 2026, Moscow intends to seize all Ukrainian territory east of the Dnipro River, including Odesa and Mykolaiv oblasts, cutting off Ukraine’s Black Sea access.

The EU has restored tariff quotas for agricultural products from Ukraine

After nearly three years of a “trade visa-free regime” started in June 2022, the European Union reintroduced tariff quotas on Ukrainian agricultural products, limiting duty-free exports.

Brussels had extended the temporary tariff-free access twice to support Ukraine’s war-torn economy.

Atlantic: Trump criticized Zelenskyy for strikes on Russian planes

The Atlantic reported that U.S. President Donald Trump was impressed by Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, which destroyed Russian strategic aircraft, but criticized President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for prioritizing strikes over peace talks with Russia.

Portnov's ex-assistant sued over hromadske investigation

Serhiy Korovchenko, a former Justice Ministry official in Crimea and aide to Viktor Yanukovych’s deputy Andriy Portnov, sued hromadske, demanding a retraction of its investigation “Portnov’s Tapes: How Crimea Was Seized.”

Korovchenko claimed the report caused him “psychological suffering.”

Poll: Most Ukrainians are ready to "endure war as long as necessary"

A June 2025 poll showed 60% of Ukrainians are willing to “endure the war as long as necessary,” up from previous surveys.

The government wants Ukrainians to know English better

The Cabinet of Ministers set a goal for 60% of Ukrainians to have some English proficiency by 2030, with 28% able to read, write, and speak at a conversational level. The program will receive 437.8 million hryvnias ($10.8 million) in funding.

The state will provide money to children returning from the occupation

The government introduced a one-time 50,000-hryvnia ($1,235) payment for children returning from occupied territories or after deportation, to help parents or guardians ensure their reintegration.

Other news:

• Ukraine denied reports of repatriating fallen defenders’ bodies under the Istanbul agreements.
• Three defense ministers from Yanukovych’s era were charged with treason.
• Ivano-Frankivsk rescuers were caught illegally logging in a nature reserve under the guise of training.
• The Defense Ministry opened a testing range for advanced demining technologies.
• The EU allocated 30 million euros to restore Kryvyi Rih’s water system, damaged by the Kakhovka dam explosion.
• Climber Antonina Samoilova became the first Ukrainian woman to summit the world’s five highest peaks.