Russian Strikes Kill 14 in Kyiv as Ukraine Faces Deadliest Attack

• Jun 17, 2025

At least 14 people were killed and dozens injured during a brutal overnight attack on Kyiv, Ukraine's capital city.

The strikes, which lasted more than nine hours, involved 440 drones and 32 missiles launched by Russian forces. Ukrainian officials say it was one of the deadliest assaults on the city since the full-scale invasion began over three years ago. Entire sections of a nine-storey apartment block were destroyed when a ballistic missile struck, leaving many residents trapped under rubble.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that 27 districts in Kyiv were hit during the attack. Emergency crews faced immense challenges, including repeated air raid sirens, which delayed search and rescue operations. Many residents were forced to seek shelter in bunkers from midnight until sunrise.

“This is waking up in an utter nightmare,” Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko posted on X (formerly Twitter), describing the widespread destruction and emotional toll.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as “pure terrorism,” blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin for using violence to instill fear. “This war continues only because he [Putin] can afford to keep fighting,” Zelensky said. He also expressed frustration with the global response, saying, “It is the terrorists who should feel the pain, not normal, peaceful people.”

Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry claimed it had intercepted 147 Ukrainian drones, pointing to the ongoing back-and-forth nature of the war. Other parts of Ukraine were also hit, including the port city of Odesa, where one person died and at least ten others were wounded in separate drone attacks.

The timing of the assault is especially troubling, as it comes amid rising international tensions and little hope for peace talks. President Zelensky had planned to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump during the G7 summit in Canada to seek renewed support for Ukraine. However, Trump cut his trip short due to escalating issues in the Middle East, delaying any potential diplomatic boost for Ukraine. As rescue efforts continue and families mourn their loved ones, the violence shows no signs of slowing down, further deepening the crisis in Ukraine.