Overnight, Kyiv faced a severe onslaught of drone and missile strikes, marking the largest aerial attack since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began over three years ago. This aggression resulted in one fatality and at least 26 injuries, including a child, alongside extensive damage to numerous districts within the capital during a relentless seven-hour assault.
As air raid sirens blared, the city became a chaotic scene, illuminated by explosions and emergency vehicle lights reflecting off high-rise buildings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked on the sleepless night experienced by residents, highlighting Russia’s intensified long-range attacks, which have ramped up recently amid efforts to break through Ukrainian lines along the extensive 1,000-kilometre front.
In total, Russian forces deployed approximately 550 drones and missiles, primarily Shahed drones, in this latest attack. Civilians, like 23-year-old wedding photographer Alya Shahlai, recounted harrowing experiences, with her home being obliterated during the assault. With a sense of urgency, she and others took refuge in shelters, as the violence prompted widespread panic.
Emergency services struggled as five ambulances were damaged while responding to the crisis, and over 300 tonnes of rubble required removal. The international community’s attempts to broker peace have remained largely ineffective, resulting in sporadic prisoner exchanges rather than substantive negotiations for a ceasefire.
In a separate discussion, Zelenskyy communicated with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed disappointment in the lack of progress in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding peace efforts. Trump noted that his attempts to persuade Putin to halt hostilities were unsuccessful.
The unrelenting nature of Russia’s aggressions escalated, with air assault records being shattered—June saw a staggering 5,438 drones launched at Ukraine. Amid this chaotic backdrop, Ukrainian officials reported that their air defences successfully intercepted a significant number of targets, including cruise missiles.
The fallout from these attacks was stark across the capital and several regions, including Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv, as damage assessments revealed destruction in at least five of Kyiv’s ten districts. Zelenskyy condemned these strikes as deliberate acts of terror aimed to disrupt daily life in Ukraine’s capital, while Russia’s government insisted that military targets were the intended focus of their strikes.
Continued military aid from the U.S. has encountered delays, putting further pressure on Ukraine’s defences as it seeks to bolster its capabilities against these mounting threats. As both sides remain entrenched in their positions, the path to peace appears further away than ever, underscoring the urgent need for renewed dialogue and support.