June 17 – Russia unleashed one of its most destructive assaults on Ukraine in recent months, firing more than 440 drones and 32 missiles in a nationwide barrage that left at least 15 people dead, including one U.S. citizen, and scores injured, Ukrainian officials confirmed Tuesday.

The assault, which began in the early hours, marked a grim escalation in the conflict and inflicted catastrophic damage, especially in the capital city of Kyiv. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the strikes deliberately targeted civilian areas, including residential buildings, schools, and critical infrastructure.

“This is pure terrorism,” Zelenskyy declared in a national address. “The entire world — especially the United States and Europe — must respond as a civilized society would to terrorists. Putin wages this war because he believes he can get away with it.”

Kyiv Suffers Worst Destruction in Months

In Kyiv’s Solomianskyi district, a ballistic missile devastated a nine-storey apartment block, reducing parts of it to rubble. Emergency crews battled fires, evacuated residents, and rescued survivors trapped in the debris. One dramatic scene saw an elderly woman being lowered from a shattered window on a stretcher.

“I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s horrific,” said Viktoriia Vovchenko, 57, a resident of the neighborhood. “They were pulling out people — injured, bloodied… elderly people, children. How much more of this can we take?”

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed 14 deaths in Kyiv and one in the southern port city of Odesa. Nearly 100 people were injured across Kyiv, Odesa, and Chernihiv. Among the dead in the capital was a 62-year-old American, killed by shrapnel wounds, said Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

Escalation Amid Diplomatic Deadlock

While Ukraine has responded with drone strikes on Russian territory, none have matched the civilian toll seen in this latest Russian attack. Moscow’s Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 147 Ukrainian drones, including some near Moscow.

The war — now in its fourth year — has intensified in recent weeks. Peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow held in Istanbul ended without agreement. Meanwhile, Russian forces have launched renewed offensives in eastern Ukraine and opened a new front in the northeastern Sumy region.

Trump’s Foreign Policy Stance Draws Scrutiny

The international fallout from the attack comes as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to distance his administration from previous U.S. commitments to Kyiv. Speaking at the G7 summit in Canada, which he left early amid tensions over Middle East conflicts, Trump called for a ceasefire but has resisted European calls for harsher sanctions on Moscow.

Trump has also floated the idea of reinstating Russia into the G7, from which it was expelled in 2014 after annexing Crimea — a move that sparked the current conflict.

Zelenskyy, who was present at the G7 summit, had hoped to secure additional military aid and coordinated sanctions, as well as a one-on-one meeting with Trump. That meeting did not take place due to Trump’s early departure.

A Dire Warning

The attack underscores the failure of diplomatic efforts and the growing toll on Ukraine’s civilian population, as Russia pursues its strategic aims in defiance of international condemnation.

With cities still smoldering and rescue efforts ongoing, President Zelenskyy renewed his plea to the international community:

“Each delay, each hesitation, costs lives. It’s time for decisive action — not just for Ukraine, but for the principles that bind the free world together.”