Deadliest Russian Attack of 2025 Hits Kyiv: 15 Killed, 156 Injured in Overnight Missile and Drone Strikes
KYIV, Ukraine – June 17, 2025 — At least 15 people were killed and 156 injured in an overnight Russian missile and drone assault on Ukraine, marking the deadliest strike on Kyiv this year. The attack leveled a nine-story residential building in the capital, prompting international condemnation.
Ukrainian officials say the barrage lasted nearly nine hours, with Russia launching over 440 drones and 32 missiles. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it “one of the most terrifying strikes on Kyiv” since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Massive Damage and Civilian Casualties in Kyiv
The attack destroyed dozens of homes, killed 14 people in Kyiv alone, and injured over 139, according to the city’s military administration. Fires broke out across multiple districts as Ukrainian air defenses intercepted falling debris. A U.S. citizen was among the dead, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed.
More than 30 apartments were completely demolished in a direct ballistic missile strike, with at least 27 locations across the capital targeted. Over 2,000 emergency workers were deployed to rescue survivors and manage the aftermath.
Odesa Also Hit, 1 Killed and 17 Injured
Simultaneously, Russian drone strikes hit the southern port city of Odesa, killing one and wounding 17 more. Ukrainian officials said the attacks deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure, with no nearby military installations.
Russia Increases Aerial Attacks Amid Summer Offensive
The assault comes as Russia escalates its long-range drone and missile warfare while advancing in eastern and northeastern Ukraine. Just days earlier, Russia launched its largest drone attack of the war, firing nearly 500 drones across Ukraine on June 10.
Moscow’s stepped-up campaign coincides with a summer ground offensive, as Ukraine continues to struggle with ammunition shortages and delayed Western support. The United Nations estimates that more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have died since the start of the war.
G7 Summit and Global Reaction
The timing of the strike drew international scrutiny, occurring as President Zelenskyy arrived at the G7 summit in Canada. He labeled the assault “barbarism” and urged Western leaders to act.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced $1.4 billion in new aid for Ukraine, along with fresh sanctions on Russia’s shadow oil fleet. The UK also introduced new sanctions on Russia’s defense sector.
Zelenskyy had planned to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the summit, but Trump returned to Washington early due to tensions in the Middle East. Trump’s earlier comments suggesting Ukraine and Russia should “fight for a while” before reaching peace have fueled diplomatic concern.
Russia Claims Retaliation, Ukraine Strikes Back
Russia claimed it intercepted 203 Ukrainian drones over 10 of its regions in retaliation. Meanwhile, Ukrainian shelling reportedly killed two civilians in Russia’s Kursk region, according to local officials.
Flights across several major Russian airports—including Moscow, Kaluga, Tambov, and Nizhny Novgorod—were briefly suspended due to drone threats.
Ukrainian forces have also begun using domestically produced long-range drones to strike deep into Russian territory, including an attack on a Russian airbase on June 1 that damaged several warplanes.
Kyiv Residents in Shock After Devastating Night
Survivors described the attack as apocalyptic. Olena Lapyshniak, 49, recounted the moment her building was struck:
“I heard a whistling sound, then two huge blasts. Windows, doors—gone. There’s no military base here. Just people. It’s horrifying.”
The mayor of Kyiv, Vitalii Klitschko, declared Wednesday a day of mourning for the victims of what is now one of the most significant Russian attacks in 2025.
