On the night of June 22–23, Russia launched one of its largest barrages of the war against Ukraine, targeting Kyiv and multiple regions with 352 drones, 11 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and 5 Iskander-K cruise missiles, killing at least six people in Kyiv and injuring many, including children, according to Ukrainian officials. This followed another devastating attack on June 17, 2025, when Russia struck Kyiv with 440 drones and 32 missiles, leaving at least 10 dead and over 100 injured.
The June 22–23 assault saw a drone crash into a residential apartment block in Kyiv’s Solomyanskyi district, destroying dozens of homes and damaging educational facilities like the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute dormitories. A Shahed drone also struck a hospital in Bila Tserkva, near Kyiv, killing a patient. In the Chernihiv region, a Russian Lancet drone attack killed two and injured 10, including three children. Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko described the scene on X: “Waking up in utter nightmare: people trapped under rubble and full buildings collapsed.”
The earlier June 17 attack, lasting over nine hours, was among the most terrifying since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. A ballistic missile obliterated one entrance of a nine-storey apartment block in Kyiv’s Solomyanskyi district, with 27 locations across the capital hit. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed a 62-year-old U.S. citizen was among the victims, with over 40 apartments destroyed and fears of additional victims trapped under debris. He accused Russia of using cluster munitions packed with ball bearings to maximize civilian casualties. Initial reports cited 15 deaths in Kyiv, later revised to 10, with two additional fatalities in Odesa.
Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, reported that the June 17 barrage targeted residential areas, critical infrastructure, and educational buildings, noting that early death tolls can include errors due to misidentification during rescue efforts. The June 22–23 attack similarly struck civilian targets, with Russia’s defense ministry claiming it hit Ukraine’s military-industrial sites, a claim Kyiv disputes. Explosions and air defense fire echoed through Kyiv, with air raid sirens disrupting rescue operations as drones approached from multiple directions.
Russia has intensified its aerial assaults in recent weeks, using waves of drones and decoys to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses. The June 22–23 barrage included Russian-Chinese UAVs targeting Zhulyany airport and the Antonov plant in Kyiv. Ukraine’s air force intercepted 479 of 499 air targets on June 8–9, but the sheer volume of attacks strains defenses. In retaliation, Ukraine has struck Russian airfields, notably in Operation Spider’s Web on June 1, damaging strategic bombers. Russian officials claimed Ukraine launched a missile strike on occupied Donetsk, wounding 10, and reported downing 147 Ukrainian drones across nine Russian regions on June 17.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, attending the G7 Summit in Canada, condemned the attacks as “pure terrorism,” criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin for prolonging the war “because he can afford to.” He stated, “It is a tragedy when the powerful of this world turn a blind eye. It should be the terrorists who feel the pain, not peaceful civilians.” Zelensky had hoped to secure stronger U.S. support in talks with President Donald Trump at the G7, but Trump’s early departure amid a Middle East crisis disrupted these plans.
The United Kingdom and allies are set to announce new sanctions on Russia in response to the escalating attacks, aiming to maintain diplomatic and economic pressure on Moscow. Meanwhile, peace talks in Istanbul have stalled, with Russia demanding Ukraine cede territory and limit its military, conditions Kyiv rejects. Despite agreements on prisoner swaps and repatriating bodies, no ceasefire progress has been made.
As Russia scales up drone and missile production, with 2,700 Shahed drones manufactured monthly, Ukraine faces an ongoing challenge to bolster its defenses and rally international support. The relentless assaults underscore the war’s toll on civilians and the urgent need for a resolution.
