Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his address on Telegram, delivered a shocking and alarming message regarding recent Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, which have been among the largest in scale since the start of the full-scale war
According to the head of state, on the night of June 17 alone, Russia launched over 440 kamikaze drones and 32 missiles. This represents a massive onslaught of military equipment that inflicted destructive strikes almost across all key regions of the country, including Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, and Mykolaiv. The strike on Kyiv was particularly devastating, considered the most powerful since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Residential buildings in eight districts of the city were damaged or destroyed. Currently, firefighters and emergency responders are working at the sites of the destruction, searching for people who may have been trapped under the rubble. Preliminary reports indicate that at least 15 people died as a result of the night attack, and another 75 were wounded of varying severity. An entire entrance of a residential building in Kyiv has been destroyed, and rescue operations are ongoing, as the exact number of affected individuals has not yet been determined. The consequences of the strike on Odesa are also being assessed, with rescuers working in heightened mode at the sites of impacts. In total, Zelenskyy noted that the attack caused significant destruction across eight districts of Kyiv. Additionally, rescue teams are working in the regions, evacuating the wounded and providing necessary medical assistance. Information about the condition of the victims continues to rise; however, the exact number of fatalities remains unknown. The president stated that, so far, 15 deaths have been confirmed. The head of state expressed his condolences with deep sympathy to the families of those killed and affirmed that all efforts on the part of the Ukrainian authorities are focused on providing aid to the affected and on restoring the damaged infrastructure. He also emphasized that internal and international partners must respond more decisively to this escalation, as the scale of Russian terror has already exceeded the bounds of ordinary warfare and has taken on the aspect of brutality against civilians. Zelenskyy stressed that the entire world, especially the USA and European Union countries, must respond more clearly to these attacks, because their consequences go beyond mere military aggression — they pose a direct threat to the stability and security of the entire international community. According to the president, Moscow fully understands that its actions constitute terrorist tactics aimed at intimidating the Ukrainian people and destroying infrastructure, but the world must not remain indifferent to this situation. Zelenskyy underscored the need for pressure and sanctions, as well as the consolidation of international response, so that these brazen acts of aggression do not go unpunished. The prerequisites for this large-scale attack were set in motion the day before: on the night of June 17, Russian military forces and terrorist groups carried out a massive combined assault on Ukrainian territory. Preliminary data shows that in Kyiv alone, 14 people died as a result of this nighttime attack, and another 55 were wounded. This reflects the astonishing cynicism and audacity of the aggressor, who does not hesitate to deploy powerful military force against peaceful civilians. Amidst these new, extremely troubling developments, U.S. President Donald Trump made an unexpected statement: he announced that he is postponing the implementation of new sanctions against Russia pending the possibility of a diplomatic agreement to end the war in Ukraine. This adds a layer of complexity to the international political situation, as Kyiv depends on effective support and protection from the global community, which has shown signs of tension and potential inaction during the recent attacks. Thus, the situation remains tense and dramatic. Ukraine is experiencing one of its most difficult periods, and the fight against destruction, rescue operations, and most importantly — Russian aggression — continues relentlessly. International leaders are calling for unity and decisive action to halt this wave of terror and restore security and stability to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainian heroes and rescue services continue to confront the aftermath of this unprecedented attack, reaffirming that for our country, this struggle is extraordinary, invaluable, and unbreakable.