A Ukrainian drone attack early June 3 killed seven people and injured 11 on a passenger bus traveling between Moscow and Simferopol in the Russian-controlled eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine, Kremlin-installed leader Denis Pushilin said. He confirmed, "The drone hit a passenger bus travelling between Moscow and Simferopol in Russian-occupied Crimea" [1]. Russian-backed authorities in Crimea also reported at least four deaths from Ukrainian strikes targeting non-residential facilities in Simferopol and a commuter train to Kerch, though casualty figures differ[ s1,s3,s8].
Russia shot down more than 350 Ukrainian drones overnight into June 3, including 59 over St Petersburg and at least 50 in the Leningrad region, Russian officials said[ s1,s2,s9,s11]. Ukrainian drones hit an oil export terminal and a naval base in Kronstadt near St Petersburg on June 3, causing fires and damage to a corvette dry docked there[ s2,s9,s10,s11]. The strikes came as Russia held its annual International Economic Forum in St Petersburg starting June 3, featuring delegations from over 130 countries including the U.S.[ s1,s2,s10].
On June 2, Russian air raids on Ukrainian cities including Kyiv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv killed 9-16 people and wounded dozens, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. "Four people were killed and at least 58, including two children, wounded in the mass enemy attack," he said. "Air defence forces are working! Stay in shelters!"[ s5,s6,s7].
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed strikes inside Russia on oil terminals, military bases, and other facilities as part of a "long-range sanctions" strategy. "The Ukrainian plan of long-range sanctions is being implemented exactly as it is needed to bring peace closer," he said[ s2,s3,s9,s10]. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded, "Our responses will be systemic in nature"[ s2].
On May 30, Russia's state nuclear company Rosatom reported a Ukrainian kamikaze drone struck the turbine hall of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, causing a hole but no damage to key equipment. Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev said, "The explosion caused no damage to the primary equipment; however, it tore a hole in the turbine hall wall"[ s4].
Russian cruise and ballistic missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, infrastructure, and energy targets continued daily, while Ukraine increased attacks on Russian logistical and energy sites[ s5,s6,s7,s12].
The drone attack on the bus and strikes on Russian-controlled territory show intensifying cross-border assaults amid ongoing conflict. Russian forces faced widespread counterstrikes and significant drone losses in early June.
