At least 16 people were killed in Kyiv as 175 drones and more than a dozen missiles hit the capital. At least 12 people were injured in a Russian drone attack on Kherson. Trump puts off new Russia sanctions as the U.S. awaits a peace deal.
At least 16 people killed in Kyiv as 175 drones, more than dozen missiles hit the capital
Russia carried out a mass missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight into Tuesday, killing at least 16 people and wounding at least 134 others in the capital, Kyiv.
Russia pummeled Kyiv and its suburbs with 175 drones, 14 cruise missiles and at least two ballistic missiles, head of the Kyiv city military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, said in a post to Telegram.
A missile struck a nine-story residential building in Kyiv’s Solomyanskyi district, wiping out a whole section of it, which was flattened into a pile of debris. The Russian attack delivered “direct hits on residential buildings. Rockets — from the upper floors to the basement,” Tkachenko said.
There could be more people under the rubble. Rescue efforts were underway on Tuesday evening.
A drone smashed into an apartment block in the Darnytskyi district, destroying dozens of flats. At least five other city districts sustained damage.
This is Russia’s deadliest attack on Kyiv in months. A Russian attack on the capital on April 24, 2025 claimed 13 lives. The death toll from a missile strike on July 8, 2024 that hit multiple locations, including the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital, stood at 33.
An apartment building in Kyiv was hit by a Kh-101 cruise missile, head of the Communications Directorate for Ukraine’s Air Force Command, Colonel Yuriy Ihnat said on national television on Tuesday. Russian drones approached the city from different directions. He added that fragments of cluster munitions were found at the impact sites.
Kyiv city authorities have declared a day of mourning on Wednesday, June 18.
In Odesa, two people were killed and 26 others wounded in an overnight attack, the regional authorities said.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia had launched 440 Shahed and decoy drones and 32 missiles toward Ukraine, including two Kh-47M2 Kinzhal ballistic missiles, 16 Kh-101 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS strategic bombers, four Kalibr sea-launched cruise missiles, nine Kh-59/Kh-69 air-launched missiles and a Kh-31P air-launched cruise missile. Ukraine’s air defenses shot down or otherwise neutralized 402 drones (163 disappeared off radar), all two Kh-47M2 Kinzhal ballistic missiles (one disappeared off radar), 15 Kh-101 cruise missiles, all nine Kh-59/Kh-69 air-launched missiles (one disappeared off radar) and a Kh-31P air-launched cruise missile that disappeared off radar.
The main target for the attack was Kyiv. Russian missiles and drones hit target in 10 locations, and debris from missiles and drones fell in 34 sites, it added.
At least 12 people injured in Russian drone attack on Kherson
At least 12 people were injured in a Russian drone attack on Kherson’s Dniprovskyi district on Tuesday morning, local authorities said.
“The Russians have changed their tactics of drone use and have been massively attacking the Dniprovskyi district of Kherson since the morning. At least 11 people were wounded in a drone attack there in just one hour. They are all getting the necessary treatment,” head of the Kherson regional military administration, Oleksandr Prokudin said in a post to Telegram.
The toll of injured later rose to 12.
A 36-year-old man suffered a blast injury and shrapnel wounds to the head and chest, the Kherson regional military administration said. A 51-year-old woman had a blast injury, concussion and a shrapnel wound to her face.
A 60-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman suffered a blast injury and shrapnel wounds. They were taken to hospital.
“We are making all efforts to counter enemy drones. We are adapting to the enemy’s new tactics, it takes time,” Prokudin said. He called on city residents not to go outside unless they absolutely needed to.
Trump puts off new Russia sanctions as U.S. awaits peace deal
Speaking to journalists at the G7 summit on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was “waiting to see whether or not a deal” could be agreed between Russia and Ukraine to end the war before signing up to a new sanctions package.
Asked about European calls for sanctions, Trump responded: “Europe is saying that, but they haven’t done it yet. Let’s see them do it first.”
Trump indicated he did not back the sanctions plan, saying the sanctions “cost [the US] a lot of money.” He added: “You’re talking about billions and billions of dollars. Sanctions are not that easy. It’s not just a one-way street.”
