Zelenskyy Visits UK as Russia's Deadly Barrage Rocks Ukraine

Russian Attacks on Ukraine Kill 14 Civilians as Zelenskyy Travels to UK

Kyiv, Ukraine – In a series of devastating overnight attacks, Russian drones and missiles claimed the lives of at least 14 civilians and left dozens injured across Ukraine, according to local officials. The capital city, Kyiv, bore the brunt of the assault, with nine deaths reported and an apartment building partially collapsing.

These attacks coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the United Kingdom, where he engaged in a private meeting with King Charles III.

According to Ukraine's air force, Russia launched a barrage of 352 drones and decoys, along with 11 ballistic missiles and five cruise missiles, overnight. Impressively, Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept or jam 339 drones and 15 missiles before they could reach their intended targets, as stated in an official release.

Tragically, the devastation continued later in the day when a Russian ballistic missile struck a high school in the Odesa region, resulting in the deaths of two staff members. Fortunately, no children were present at the time due to the summer vacation, President Zelenskyy confirmed, condemning the strike as "absolutely insane."

Key Points of the Recent Attacks:

• Casualties: At least 14 civilians killed in overnight attacks.
• Kyiv: Nine deaths reported, with an apartment building partially collapsed.
• Odesa: High school destroyed by a Russian ballistic missile, killing two staff members.
• Air Defense: Ukraine's air force intercepted or jammed 339 drones and 15 missiles.

These recent strikes follow an attack nearly a week prior, which resulted in the deaths of 28 people in Kyiv, with 23 of those fatalities occurring in a residential building that collapsed after a direct missile hit. These continuous long-range strikes on civilian areas suggest a deliberate attempt by Russia to undermine Ukrainian morale.

Zelenskyy Condemns 'Coalition of Murderers'

Amidst the ongoing conflict, Russian forces have been actively trying to push further into Ukraine as part of their summer offensive along the extensive 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. However, reports from the Institute for the Study of War indicate that these efforts have not yielded significant gains.

The think tank noted that Russian forces are primarily relying on poorly trained infantry to advance, facing strong Ukrainian defenses bolstered by drone technology.

Zelenskyy stated that preliminary data suggests Russian forces employed North Korean missiles in the recent Kyiv strike. He vehemently condemned Russia, North Korea, and Iran, labeling them a "coalition of murderers" due to their provision of drones to Russia.

During his visit to the United Kingdom, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine's defense and strategies to further pressure Russia would be the primary focus of discussions. Following his private meeting with King Charles III and a subsequent lunch, he met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in anticipation of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague.

Damage to Infrastructure and Civilian Areas

Reports from emergency services reveal that drones and missiles inflicted damage on residential areas, hospitals, and sports infrastructure across numerous districts in Kyiv.

The Shevchenkivskyi district suffered the most severe damage, with a section of a five-story apartment building collapsing.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that nine people were killed in the district. Additionally, ten others, including a pregnant woman, were rescued from a nearby high-rise that also sustained significant damage. Dozens of vehicles were either burned or severely damaged by flying debris.

Eyewitness Account:

Oleksii Pozychaniuk, a resident of the building next to the one struck, recounted hearing the whistle of the approaching rocket and freezing in terror before the impact. "Windows burst out, glass was flying everywhere," he said. "We barely made it downstairs with my child. Everything here was on fire."

The Russian attack also impacted the entrance to the Sviatoshyn subway station in Kyiv, causing minor injuries to two people, according to Timur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv's military administration. He reported that over 30 people were injured throughout the city.

Underground subway stations have been serving as crucial shelters for those seeking protection from aerial attacks. During the almost nightly strikes, these stations across Kyiv are often filled with people seeking refuge.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned the strikes as demonstrating Russia's "unlimited cruelty" by deliberately targeting civilian areas, and pledged additional European sanctions against Moscow.

Wider Impact Across Ukraine

Outside of Kyiv, a drone attack in the Chernihiv region resulted in the deaths of two people and injuries to 10 others late Sunday, according to authorities. Among the wounded were three children, as reported by the regional administration head, Viacheslav Chaus.

Additionally, one person was killed and eight wounded overnight in the city of Bila Tserkva, located approximately 85 kilometers (53 miles) southwest of the capital.

In response, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that its air defenses shot down 23 Ukrainian drones overnight into Monday.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko stated that it would take at least a year to identify the thousands of soldiers' bodies repatriated by Russia and to determine whether Moscow mistakenly included any of its own servicemen.

Zelenskyy previously mentioned that Russia had included at least 20 of its own deceased soldiers in recent exchanges with Ukraine, attributing this to Moscow's disorganization in managing large-scale swaps of wounded POWs and remains.

Klymenko confirmed that at least five of the bodies have been verified as Russian, with tests ongoing for others. Uniforms and items, including cigarettes, purportedly belonging to the five Russians were displayed to journalists.

The recent escalation in attacks underscores the ongoing human cost of the conflict in Ukraine. As President Zelenskyy seeks international support and new strategies to counter Russian aggression, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a swift and peaceful resolution to this devastating crisis. The resilience of the Ukrainian people in the face of such adversity remains a testament to their unwavering spirit.

Tags: Ukraine, Russia, Zelenskyy, UK visit, Kyiv, drone attacks, missile strikes, civilian deaths, Odesa, King Charles, conflict, international relations, war crimes, NATO

Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/06/24/nx-s1-5443188/russian-attacks-on-ukraine-kill-14-civilians-as-zelenskyy-travels-to-uk