Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, targets western oblasts
Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Russian forces launched a missile attack on Ukraine overnight on June 7, primarily targeting the country's western oblasts.
Ukraine's Air Force announced an air alert notifying of the threat of missile strikes against Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, and Lviv oblasts, as well as in the capital region in Kyiv Oblast.
The Air Force cited the threat of Russian cruise missiles, Tu-95MS bombers, and Shahed-type drones.
Multiple explosions were heard in Khmelnytskyi Oblast around 4:15 a.m. local time, Suspilne reported.
As a result of the attack, a fire broke out at an industrial facility in Kyiv Oblast, the local military administration reported. Emergency crews are currently on the scene to assess the extent of the damage.
Polish and other allied aircraft were scrambled to protect the country's own airspace in response to reports of the Russian missile attacks, the Operational Command of Poland's Armed Forces said on X.
Air raid alerts were turned off at 5:00 a.m., and Polish and allied aircraft operations concluded around 7 a.m. local time.
No casualties were reported at 7 a.m.
According to the Air Force, mobile fire groups downed 48 of 53 Shahed-type drones and all 5 cruise missiles launched by Russia overnight. The missiles and drones were shot down over Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Khmelnytskyi oblasts.
In recent months, Russia has intensified its attacks against Ukraine's critical infrastructure in a renewed assault against the country's energy grid.
As a result of the attacks on energy infrastructure, Ukraine began implementing rolling shutdowns on May 15, but they have dramatically increased in recent days.
The latest Russian mass-missile attack on May 31 caused further damage to energy infrastructure across the country.
Chris York
