Russia Turns to Airstrikes as Ground War Stalls

Russian ground forces advanced only 516 square kilometers in 2026—a sharp drop from the previous year. In response, coordinated air strikes on Kyiv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv on June 2 killed at least 18 and wounded over 100. These saturation attacks—rapid, overwhelming barrages—stretch Ukrainian air defenses thin, pulling resources from the front while keeping civilians under pressure.