Foreign ministries in France, Lithuania, Estonia, and Moldova condemned Russia's overnight missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities and demanded tougher pressure on Moscow on 2 June. The barrage hit Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and other oblasts, killing at least 18 people and wounding scores more.
Russia launched 729 missiles and drones during the assault, with Ukrainian air defenses shooting down 642 of the incoming weapons. Kyiv was the main direction of the attack, according to figures cited in Ukrainian media.
France calls strikes a violation of international law
The French Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure as a breach of international humanitarian law and pledged that Paris would work to ensure the perpetrators are held accountable.
"These massive strikes against the population and civilian infrastructure once again demonstrate Moscow's total disregard for efforts to establish peace. Despite Ukraine's repeated proposals for a lasting ceasefire, the Kremlin resorts to delaying maneuvers in order to continue its war of aggression," the ministry said in a statement.
Paris said the attacks would only sharpen its determination to increase pressure on Russia and promised continued bilateral and EU-level support to bring about a just and durable peace.
Casualties rise across multiple cities
The strikes killed 12 people in Dnipro and 6 in Kyiv, where about 80 others were wounded. More than 10 people were injured in Kharkiv, according to the latest tallies cited in the French statement. Officials had earlier reported that the Dnipro dead included 2 children and that a rescuer was among those killed in the city's emergency response. Casualty figures continued to rise as rescue operations advanced.
Baltic and EU officials say strikes signal Russian weakness
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová argued that the barrage demonstrated Russia is failing on the battlefield, writing on Facebook that the Kremlin is running out of financial resources, manpower, strength, and motivation. She noted that Ukraine now has €90 billion in defense and budgetary support from the EU.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys called the strikes evidence that Russia is losing on the battlefield and urged allies to expand military aid, intensify sanctions, fully isolate Moscow politically and economically, deploy frozen Russian assets, and accelerate Ukraine's EU accession process.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna described the attacks as "a deliberate strategy of terror by Moscow" and warned that "every loophole, every moment of hesitation, every soft reaction becomes an invitation for the next strike."
Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu said nothing can justify strikes on civilians and that those responsible must be held accountable.
Ukraine seeks Patriot interceptors as EU prepares new sanctions
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called on Western partners to "act, not only condemn" after Russia launched 729 missiles and drones at Ukraine overnight. Andrii Sybiha also urged Western partners to supply additional Patriot interceptor missiles and step up pressure on Moscow. The European Union is reportedly close to approving its 21st sanctions package against Russia, with a target adoption date of 15 July. Over the weekend, France detained a sanctioned tanker linked to Russia's "shadow fleet."
"Terrorists in Moscow must realize that their brutal attacks won't bring them anywhere," Sybiha wrote. "The price for their regime will only increase. The only way out for Putin is to immediately end this war. Peace efforts will only succeed when they are backed with real pressure on Moscow."
