Russian Airstrike Kills 15 in Kyiv, Injures Over 130

⁣ ​Updated June ‍17, ⁣2025

A Russian missile and drone ⁤barrage on Kyiv killed​ 15 people and injured 131 others as residents⁣ slept, officials said‌ Tuesday. The ‌assault,which lasted nearly nine hours,heavily damaged a residential building.

Kyiv City Military Administration⁣ head Tymur Tkachenko reported‌ that at least 14 people died in Kyiv. Interior minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that a U.S.citizen died ⁣from shrapnel wounds.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,​ in ‍a post on ​X, stated that russia launched over 440 drones and 32‌ missiles at ⁤Ukraine, calling ​the Kyiv attack “one of the most horrific attacks”⁢ and “pure terrorism.”

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii⁤ Klitschko said 114 people ​were injured and ⁣declared ‌Wednesday an official⁣ day​ of mourning.

The attack ⁢is among the deadliest on Kyiv in recent months,occurring after failed peace‌ talks to end the‍ war,now in its fourth year.

The United Nations reports that Russian attacks have​ killed‍ over 12,000 Ukrainian ⁣civilians. Russia maintains it only targets military sites.

Russia has intensified ⁤its‍ aerial​ attacks recently, ⁣launching almost 500 drones on June 10. On⁢ April 24,a strike on Kyiv killed at least 12 people.

These strikes coincide with a Russian summer ​offensive on the eastern⁢ front line, where Ukraine needs more Western military support.

Uncertainty regarding U.S. policy has raised concerns about aid to Kyiv. Zelenskyy was​ scheduled to meet with President trump in Canada but Trump returned early to⁢ Washington ‌due to Middle East ‍tensions.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry urged its citizens to leave Israel and Iran due to escalating​ regional ​conflict.

Zelenskyy aims to prevent⁣ Ukraine from being overshadowed by ⁢Middle ‌East tensions and U.S.‍ trade ​issues.

Trump suggested letting Ukraine and Russia “fight⁢ for a‍ while” before pursuing peace,‍ while European leaders urged him to pressure Putin for ‌a ceasefire.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the attacks during⁤ the G7 summit showed Putin’s “total disrespect” for the U.S. and other‌ countries.

Ukrainian forces have retaliated with domestically produced ‌long-range drones.

The russian military claimed ⁣to have‍ downed 203 Ukrainian drones ⁣over 10⁤ regions between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

rosaviatsia, Russia’s civil aviation⁤ agency, briefly halted‌ flights in and out of Moscow airports, as well as airports in other cities, as a precaution.

The overnight strikes also hit Odesa,killing ​one person and injuring 17,according to Oleh Kiper,head of the regional administration.

Zelenskyy⁤ said Putin “is doing‍ this simply as he⁣ can afford to continue the war,” adding that it⁣ is indeed troubling ⁤when world powers “turn ⁣a blind eye to it.”

The Kyiv City Military Administration reported “direct hits on​ residential buildings,” with rockets striking “from the upper ⁢floors​ to​ the basement.”

Klymenko said ‌30 apartments were destroyed in one​ residential‌ block. Over 2,000 rescuers, police, municipal​ services and doctors are working at 27⁤ locations, he said.

Olena Lapyshniak, 49, described the horror of the attack that nearly leveled her apartment building. “It’s horrible, it’s scary, in one moment there is no life,”⁣ she said.

People were wounded ​in the Sviatoshynskyi and⁣ Solomianskyi districts. Fires broke out in two other‌ districts due to falling ⁢debris, Klitschko said.

Moscow⁤ escalated attacks after ‍Ukraine’s⁢ Security Service ⁣targeted warplanes in Russian air bases.

What’s​ next

International ⁢pressure is expected to mount on Russia to de-escalate,⁤ while Ukraine‌ continues to seek increased military‍ aid from its allies.