Key Points:
- Massive Russian attack on Kyiv with ballistic missiles and Shahed drones leaves at least 30 dead and over 170 injured.
- Assault follows U.S. decision to pause shipments of critical air defense missiles and munitions to Ukraine.
- Kyiv’s air defense intercepts hundreds of incoming threats, but residential buildings and infrastructure suffer catastrophic damage.
- Ukrainian President Zelensky plans urgent talks with Donald Trump over U.S. military aid freeze.
- City authorities urge residents to stay indoors as fires and toxic air grip multiple districts.
Kyiv: Kyiv faced one of the most destructive assaults since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, just hours after the United States announced a pause in critical military aid shipments to Ukraine. Russian forces unleashed a coordinated barrage of ballistic missiles and Shahed-type attack drones on the Ukrainian capital, resulting in widespread devastation, dozens of deaths, and hundreds of injuries.
Relentless Barrage: Missiles Strike Every Few Seconds
The attack began late at night, with air raid sirens blaring as Russian troops launched waves of drones followed by ballistic missiles targeting residential neighborhoods. The Ukrainian Air Force reported intercepting 428 out of 472 aerial weapons, including nearly 280 Shahed drones and multiple cruise and ballistic missiles. Despite these efforts, the sheer volume of firepower overwhelmed air defenses, and several missiles struck high-rise apartment buildings, causing catastrophic destruction.
- In the Solomianskyi district, a nine-story residential building was hit directly by a ballistic missile, collapsing an entire section from roof to basement.
- Fires erupted across multiple districts, including Shevchenkivskyi, Holosiivskyi, and Darnytskyi, with emergency services battling blazes and searching for survivors.
- The city’s air was described as “toxic” due to the high concentration of combustion products, prompting authorities to urge residents to keep windows and doors closed.
Human Toll: Dozens Dead, Hundreds Injured
Official casualty figures have fluctuated as rescue operations continue. As of the latest updates:
- At least 30 people have been killed and 172 injured in Kyiv alone, with the death toll expected to rise as more bodies are recovered from the rubble.
- Among the dead was a 62-year-old American citizen, highlighting the international impact of the attack.
- Emergency teams, including over 400 rescuers and 200 units of equipment, have been deployed across the city to search for survivors and provide medical aid.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and terror:
“I grabbed my daughter by the hand and shouted ‘run!’ It was literally 15 seconds. We ran to the toilet, and then there was a very powerful explosion,” recounted a local nurse who survived the missile strike.
U.S. Aid Pause Fuels Russian Escalation
The timing of the Russian assault is widely seen as a direct response to the U.S. decision to halt shipments of air defense missiles and other critical munitions to Ukraine. The Pentagon cited a review of military stockpiles as the reason for the pause, but Ukrainian officials warned that any delay in support would embolden Russian aggression.
President Zelensky has urgently sought clarification and is expected to discuss the situation with former U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming days, hoping to secure renewed American assistance. Ukrainian officials have expressed alarm at the lack of clarity and the potential for further Russian advances if Western support falters.
City in Crisis: Fires, Toxic Air, and Mourning
The aftermath has left Kyiv in crisis:
- Fires continue to burn in multiple neighborhoods, and the air remains hazardous due to smoke and chemical byproducts.
- June 18 was declared an official day of mourning in Kyiv, with city leaders and citizens reeling from the scale of devastation.
- Psychological aid, temporary shelters, and emergency medical services have been set up for displaced residents and survivors.
Global Implications
The attack underscores the precarious situation facing Ukraine as Western support wavers and Russian forces intensify their campaign. Ukrainian leaders have called on the international community to respond decisively to what President Zelensky described as “pure terrorism”.
As Kyiv mourns its dead and braces for further attacks, the world watches to see whether renewed U.S. support will arrive in time to bolster Ukraine’s defenses and deter further Russian escalation.
