Russia has launched a massive attack on Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv, killing at least 15 people and injuring nearly 100. The attack, which lasted for over nine hours, was the largest in months and left several apartment buildings severely damaged.
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched 280 drones and two Kinzhal ballistic missiles, most of which targeted Kyiv. Residents of the city heard constant crackling sounds from air defenses as they shot down many of the incoming aerial weapons.
Other parts of Ukraine, including Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Zhytomyr, and Chernihiv, were also hit by the attack. A high-rise apartment complex in Kyiv partially collapsed into rubble, and emergency workers are trying to rescue survivors.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as “one of the most horrifying strikes on Kyiv” and warned that the death toll could rise. He also criticized Russia for refusing to agree to an unconditional ceasefire, calling it “pure terrorism.”
The US has been pushing for stronger sanctions on Russia in response to the attacks, but so far, efforts to start peace negotiations have failed. The situation remains tense, with Israel and Iran trading attacks, and Zelenskyy’s meeting with US President Donald Trump was cancelled.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/06/17/nx-s1-5436598/ukraine-russia-kyiv-strikes-drone-missiles