World News

Russian drone, missile attack on Kyiv kills eight

Ukraine reported on Monday that Russia had unleashed a wave of drone and missile strikes overnight, damaging a residential building in Kyiv and killing eight civilians. The renewed assault comes amid…

By Modupeola Showunmi 3 min Jun 23, 2025

Ukraine reported on Monday that Russia had unleashed a wave of drone and missile strikes overnight, damaging a residential building in Kyiv and killing eight civilians.

The renewed assault comes amid stalled diplomatic efforts to end the war, now in its third year. The last direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow took place nearly three weeks ago, with no new talks planned.

AFP journalists in the capital described hearing drones overhead and a series of explosions during the night.

One resident, Natalia Marshavska, recounted how the sound of an approaching drone grew louder until it hovered directly above. Moments later, it exploded, throwing her across her apartment, shattering windows, and filling her home with smoke.

“It was terrifying,” she said.

Russia’s military claimed it used precision-guided weapons and drones to strike Ukrainian military targets, asserting that all intended objectives were hit.

Zelensky in the UK

Ukraine’s Interior Minister, Igor Klymenko, confirmed that seven people were killed and 30 others injured in Kyiv, with an additional fatality reported in Bila Tserkva, a town near the capital.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia had launched a total of 352 drones — including Iranian-made models — and 16 missiles. He also alleged that some of the weapons were supplied by North Korea.

Zelensky warned that neighboring countries of Russia, Iran, and North Korea should seriously consider their own security, given what he called a “coalition of murderers” spreading violence and instability.

On Monday, Zelensky made an unannounced visit to the United Kingdom, one of Ukraine’s key supporters, to discuss defense cooperation and sanctions against Russia. A Ukrainian official said he would meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer and members of Parliament.

His visit precedes a NATO summit in The Hague later this week, where Zelensky is expected to make only a limited appearance to avoid direct confrontation with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Since returning to power, Trump has disrupted the West’s strategy on Ukraine by weakening support for Kyiv and signaling openness to better relations with Moscow.

During the strikes, AFP reporters witnessed residents seeking shelter in basements, while emergency workers sifted through rubble at the site of a damaged apartment complex.

Civilian Areas Targeted

Zelensky said five civilian homes were among the buildings hit and confirmed that rescue efforts were ongoing.

The latest attacks come less than a week after another deadly strike on Kyiv that killed at least 28 people. Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrsky, recently vowed to ramp up attacks on Russian targets in response.

In Russia, the defense ministry reported shooting down 23 Ukrainian drones over the western part of the country. Kyiv maintains that its long-range strikes on Russian military infrastructure — even those deep inside Russian territory — are legitimate responses to ongoing attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.

Russia continues to occupy about 20% of Ukraine and claims to have annexed four additional regions since its full-scale invasion in 2022, adding to Crimea, which it took over in 2014.

Ukrainian officials have accused Moscow of sabotaging peace negotiations to prolong the war and seize more land.

AFP

Russian drone, missile attack on Kyiv kills eight

Understand the wider story

Follow the wider story