Russian missile and drone attack hit Kyiv, killing 14, injuring at least 99

At least 14 people have been killed and 99 others injured in one of the most devastating Russian attacks on Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to officials. The overnight assault on June 17 lasted nearly nine hours and involved a massive wave of kamikaze drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles targeting Ukraine’s capital and surrounding areas.

President Volodymyr Zelensky called the strike “one of the most horrifying attacks on Kyiv,” revealing that more than 440 drones and 32 missiles were launched across Ukraine during the night. Damage was reported in at least eight of Kyiv’s districts. Rescue operations are ongoing, with emergency teams searching for survivors beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings.

“This is pure terrorism,” Zelensky stated. “And the whole world, the U.S., and Europe must finally respond as civilized societies respond to terrorists.”

The Solomianskyi district was among the hardest hit. A fire broke out at a five-story residential building, injuring at least 18 people — six of whom were hospitalized. The attack also caused structural damage to another high-rise and impacted at least 12 sites across the capital, including in Sviatoshynskyi, Darnytskyi, Dniprovskyi, Podilskyi, and Obolonskyi districts.

A 62-year-old U.S. citizen was among those killed, found in the Solomianskyi district near a building where medics were assisting the wounded. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the casualty, noting that the victim died before medical help could arrive.

A kindergarten in Darnytskyi and a dormitory at the Kyiv Aviation Institute were also damaged in the strike. Drones hit the 10th floor of the institute and shattered windows on multiple other floors. The upper floors of residential buildings in Shevchenkivskyi and Solomianskyi were damaged as well.

Outside the capital, towns in Kyiv Oblast also suffered from the attack. At least one woman was injured, and several homes were damaged. In the Obukhiv district, a 60-year-old man was wounded during a separate drone strike the night before.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the strike as a “massive and brutal” assault, deliberately timed to coincide with the G7 summit. “Putin does this on purpose… Only strong steps and real pressure on Moscow can prove him wrong,” he said.

Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities have intensified throughout May and June, with Moscow continuing its campaign of mass aerial bombardment targeting both civilian infrastructure and residential areas.

Russian drone strike injured 13, including one child, in Odesa

A Russian drone attack on Odesa in the early hours of June 17 caused widespread destruction, fires, and injuries, including to a child, according to regional officials and local media.

Explosions were reported in the city between 4:41 and 4:51 a.m., as Russian forces launched a large-scale assault using Shahed-type drones. Air defense systems were active during the attack, but multiple sites in the city were hit, leading to significant damage.

According to Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa Oblast Military Administration, the drones struck civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, garages, a preschool, and an inclusion center. Fires broke out at several of the affected sites.

Initial reports indicated five people were injured, including a child. However, as rescue efforts continued, the number of confirmed injuries rose to 13. Kiper stated that some individuals may still be trapped under the rubble and that emergency crews were working at the scene.

Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov urged residents to remain in shelters during the attack and warned of continuing danger from air raids.

Russian troops advance in Donetsk and Sumy oblasts

On the evening of June 16, the Ukrainian military analysis group DeepState reported that Russian forces had made new advances in both Donetsk and Sumy oblasts. In Sumy Oblast, Russian troops moved forward near the village of Yablunivka. Meanwhile, in Donetsk Oblast, they gained ground near the settlements of Hrodivka, Komar, Zaporizhzhia, and Fedorivka.

These developments come amid a sharp uptick in fighting across multiple fronts. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, there were 136 combat clashes on June 16 alone. The heaviest fighting occurred on the Pokrovsk front, which saw 42 separate engagements. Another 31 clashes were recorded on the northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk fronts.

The situation reflects Russia’s ongoing attempts to intensify pressure on Ukraine’s defenses in the east and northeast, as the full-scale war continues into its third year.

Trump has put sanctions against Russia on hold as he is waiting for a peace deal

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a postponement of new sanctions against Russia, citing the potential for an agreement to end the war in Ukraine.

Speaking to journalists at the G7 summit in Canada, Trump said he was holding off on imposing additional sanctions while waiting to see if a deal to halt the conflict would be finalized. When asked if the United States supports Europe’s calls for new sanctions on Russia, Trump responded pointedly: “Well, Europe is saying that, but they haven’t done it yet.”

Pressed on why the U.S. isn’t moving forward independently with sanctions, Trump explained that the decision comes down to economics and strategy. “When I sanction a country, that costs the U.S. a lot of money – a tremendous amount of money,” he said. “It’s not just, ‘let’s sign a document.’ You’re talking about billions and billions of dollars. Sanctions are not that easy. It’s not just a one-way street.”

Trump’s comments reflect his ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine, though his approach continues to raise concerns among Kyiv and its allies, many of whom fear that delaying sanctions could embolden Russia.