Russia bets on air war as it stumbles on the battlefield
Russia is intensifying air attacks on Ukrainian cities as its ground forces struggle to make significant advances. Recent strikes have resulted in casualties and are seen as an attempt to distract from the slow progress on the battlefield. Analysts suggest that the Kremlin's inability to gain momentum may weaken its position in future peace negotiations.
- ▪Russia's air strikes on Ukraine have killed 23 people and injured over 130 in recent attacks.
- ▪In May, Russian forces captured only 82 square km of territory, a significant decrease compared to previous months.
- ▪Ukrainian forces still control about a fifth of Donetsk, despite ongoing Russian efforts to capture the region.
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Russia bets on air war as it stumbles on the battlefieldSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxEmployees walk into a building of a private medical clinic damaged during Russian missile and drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYPublished Jun 03, 2026, 09:55 PMUpdated Jun 03, 2026, 10:01 PMListenKYIV, June 3 - Russia is pummeling major Ukrainian cities in an effort to sustain a sputtering war effort marked by a struggle to maintain momentum on the battlefield, where advances over the last month slowed to a near halt, researchers say.Tuesday's devastating air attacks on Ukraine - which killed 23 people and wounded more than 130 - followed months of stalling progress for Moscow, which has…
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