On 3 June mining, Russia continued deadly attacks on Ukrainian territory, striking central Sumy city with a long-range rocket system, equipped with cluster warheads, and launching a Kinzhal aeroballistic missile that landed outside Mykolaiv, according to local authorities and airspace monitoring sources. The Sumy attack killed at least two civilians.

Sumy: Russian cluster rocket attack kills civilians, injures children

At approximately 09:18, multiple explosions were reported in central Sumy. According to the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, Russian forces struck one of the city’s main streets, damaging vehicles.

Two civilian men were confirmed dead, and seven others injured, including children. Rescue services responded at the scene. The Sumy Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported to public broadcaster Suspilne:

“As of 10:00, two civilians are confirmed dead and seven injured, including four children.”

Sumy City Military Administration head Serhii Kryvosheenko added that many of the wounded were being transported to medical facilities.

Ukrainian airspace monitoring Telegram channel YeRadar reported at 10:30 that Russian forces used the Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system with a cluster warhead in the attack. According to the monitoring post, “There were four impacts within the city,” at the time.

The Tornado-S is a modernized version of the Smerch (9K58), with improved accuracy and a range of up to 200 km when equipped with newer rockets. The combination with cluster munitions increases its lethality against exposed personnel, vehicles, and infrastructure.

Mykolaiv: Kinzhal missile tracked from Russian MiG-31K

Ukrainian airspace monitoring channel Nikolaevsky Vanyok, linked to the military, reported at 09:51 that MiG-31K jets took off from Akhtubinsk. At 10:02, the channel stated:

“For the first time during the war, a Kinzhal has struck near us (outside the city).” 

At 10:41, the same source reported: “All is OK.”

YeRadar detailed the event further, confirming the launch from the Kamyshin area in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast and noting a projected trajectory of approximately 1,200 km westward toward central or right-bank Ukraine. The missile, an Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, is capable of maneuvering mid-flight, deviating from typical ballistic paths. It can adjust altitude and direction at hypersonic speeds due to its aerodynamic surfaces, complicating interception efforts.

The channel observed the missile traveling at approximately 7,200 km/h over the northwestern outskirts of Kyiv, heading south. It later received information about a probable impact on the outskirts of Mykolaiv. Due to the Kinzhal’s ability to adjust its path in real time, YeRadar noted it would not attempt to chart the exact route.