Russian forces launched a barrage of missile and drone strikes on Kyiv overnight into Tuesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 116, according to Ukrainian officials.
The assault, one of the largest since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022, targeted 27 locations in the capital, damaging residential buildings, educational institutions, and critical infrastructure.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that 30 apartments were destroyed in a single residential block, with emergency services searching for survivors amidst the rubble.
In Odesa, 13 more people were injured in related attacks on the Black Sea port city.
The timing of the strikes, coinciding with the G7 summit in Canada, drew sharp criticism from Ukrainian leaders.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the attack as a deliberate signal of “total disrespect to the United States and other partners who have called for an end to the killing.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, set to attend the G7 talks, called the strikes “one of the most horrific attacks” by Moscow, urging global leaders to intensify pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin for a ceasefire.
The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed the strikes targeted Ukraine’s military-industrial facilities in Kyiv and Zaporozhye, asserting that “all designated targets have been hit.”
The attacks follow Ukraine’s June 1 operation that destroyed part of Russia’s heavy bomber fleet, prompting Moscow to escalate its bombardments.
Russia deployed 175 drones and 14 cruise missiles, while its air defenses reportedly intercepted 147 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory.
As Ukraine seeks Western support to bolster its air defenses, reports suggest Russia is sourcing arms from China, Iran, and North Korea, with North Korean soldiers reportedly suffering casualties in Russia’s Kursk region.
Despite two rounds of peace talks, little progress has been made beyond prisoner exchanges, underscoring the deepening complexity of the conflict.