by Temitope Oladeji
17/6/2025
At least 15 people were killed and dozens more wounded in a large-scale Russian air assault on Kyiv in an overnight attack on Tuesday, according to Ukrainian officials.
The attack, which is regarded as one of the heaviest bombardments of the Ukrainian capital since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion over three years ago, left widespread destruction and panic across the city.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko, reported that Russia launched 440 drones and 32 missiles targeting various parts of the country.
In response, Moscow claimed its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 147 Ukrainian drones during the same period.
In Kyiv, the assault lasted more than nine hours, forcing residents to shelter underground from before midnight until sunrise.
A ballistic missile struck a nine-story apartment building in one of 27 city districts hit during the bombardment.
Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko described the aftermath on social media, saying: “Waking up in an utter nightmare: people trapped under rubble and full buildings collapsed.”
Rescue operations have been ongoing, with emergency crews still working to free survivors from debris as of the compilation of this report.
The sound of explosions and gunfire from mobile air defense units echoed throughout the night while morning air raid sirens further disrupted rescue efforts, delaying emergency responses in affected areas.
Russia has stepped up its aerial assault on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, employing waves of drones and decoys in a strategy designed to overwhelm Ukraine’s defenses.
In turn, Ukraine has continued its attacks on Russian targets, as attempts at ceasefire negotiations have failed to yield progress.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned the latest strikes as “pure terrorism,” accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of escalating the war simply because he can do so.
“It is bad when the powerful of this world turn a blind eye to this,” Zelensky said. “It is the terrorists who should feel the pain, not normal, peaceful people.”
In southern Ukraine, the port city of Odesa was also hit by drone strikes. One person was killed and at least 10 others were injured, according to Klymenko.
Zelensky had been seeking a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump during the G7 summit in Canada to discuss Ukraine’s military and strategic needs.
However, Trump cut short his presence at the summit due to rising tensions between Iran and Israel in the Middle East, a move likely to disappoint Ukrainian officials hoping to solidify American support amid the ongoing conflict.