Russian attacks on Ukraine kill at least 10 people, most of them in Kyiv
Russian drones and missiles killed at least 10 civilians in Ukraine in overnight attacks, local officials said, with seven deaths reported in the capital, Kyiv.
Russia fired 352 drones and decoys overnight, as well as 11 ballistic missiles and five cruise missiles, Ukraine's air force said.
Air defences intercepted or jammed 339 drones and 15 missiles before they could reach their targets, a statement said.
The strikes came nearly a week after a Russian attack killed 28 people in Kyiv, 23 of them in a residential building that collapsed after a direct missile hit.
Russian forces for several months have been trying to drive deeper into Ukraine as part of a summer push along the 620-mile front line, though the Institute for the Study of War said progress has failed to make significant gains.
'Russian forces are largely relying on poorly trained infantry to make gains in the face of Ukraine's drone-based defence,' the Washington-based think tank said late Sunday.
Russia also has pounded civilian areas with long-range strikes in an apparent attempt to weaken Ukrainian morale.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said preliminary data indicated that Russian forces used North Korean missiles in the Kyiv strike.
He called Russia, North Korea and Iran, which has provided drones to Russia, a 'coalition of murderers'.
Mr Zelensky said Ukraine's defence and new ways to pressure Russia will be the two main topics in his visit to the United Kingdom on Monday.
Mr Zelensky is set to meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer ahead of this week's Nato summit in The Hague.
French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the latest strikes demonstrated Russia's 'unlimited cruelty' by deliberately aiming at civilian targets, and promised more European sanctions on Moscow.
Drones and missiles hit residential areas, hospitals and sports infrastructure in numerous districts across Kyiv, emergency services said.
The most severe damage was in Shevchenkivskyi district, where a section of a five-story apartment building collapsed.
Six people were killed in the district, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Ten others, including a pregnant woman, were rescued from a nearby high-rise that also sustained heavy damage. Dozens of vehicles were burned or mangled by flying debris.
The Russian attack also damaged the entrance to the Sviatoshyn subway station in Kyiv, slightly injuring two people, said Timur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv's military administration. He said more than 30 people were injured across the city.
Underground subway stations have served as shelters for those seeking protection from aerial attacks. During almost nightly strikes, stations across Kyiv are often filled with people waiting out the danger.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, a Russian short-range drone attack killed two people and wounded 10 more in the Chernihiv region late on Sunday, authorities said. Three children were among the wounded, according to the regional administration head, Viacheslav Chaus.
Another person was killed and eight wounded overnight in the city of Bila Tserkva, around 53 miles south west of the capital.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
26 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Trump comes, not to bury Nato, but to save it
This week Nato will mark its first 76 years at its summit in The Hague. All eyes will be on Donald Trump and his robust 'America First' approach on the world stage, which has already involved the use of decisive military force against Iran's nuclear facilities. The US president has been a firm critic of Nato, but has also been responsible for a dramatic revival of the alliance. Trump has made it clear that Nato's survival depends on America's fellow members stepping up to fully participate in burden sharing with the US. The Russians have clearly viewed Nato as weak and divided and are increasingly willing to test its resolve. The US presidency must apply concerted pressure on America's allies to do far more to foster partnership rather than dependency, especially as the United States must increasingly focus on the immense threat in the Indo-Pacific presented by Communist China. In 2024, only 22 Nato members spent the 2 per cent of GDP on defence agreed to by the alliance in 2014. This is unacceptable. It leaves the alliance dangerously vulnerable when it should be projecting strength and resolve. Countries that spent less than 2 per cent of real GDP on defence last year included Italy (1.5 per cent), Canada (1.4 per cent), Spain (1.3 per cent), and Belgium (1.3 per cent). In contrast, Poland (4.1 per cent), Estonia (3.4 per cent), Latvia (3.2 per cent), and Greece (3.1 per cent) all spent above 3 per cent of GDP. Justin Trudeau's now departed Canadian government was among the very worst Nato slackers, consistently underinvesting in Canada's military with shockingly low figures for a nation with the 10 th largest GDP in the world. His successor as prime minister, Mark Carney, has vowed to raise Canadian defence spending to 2 per cent, but this is simply not enough. Ottawa needs to be serious about Nato's mission, and playing a full part in the alliance in the coming decades. As Heritage Foundation research has shown, 'European Nato members have collectively underfunded their own defence by $827.91 billion since 2014 – nearly equal to the entire annual US defence budget.' This is a staggering figure – a damning indictment of a culture of complacency and dependency in many Nato allies over the past decade. Not only should every Nato member immediately invest the minimum agreed level of spending on their own defence, they should also commit to matching the current US level of 3.5 per cent of GDP, and pledge to reach 5 per cent of GDP, which is expected to be the new benchmark set at the forthcoming Nato summit according to Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte. President Trump's pressure on Nato partners to spend more on defence is already having a major impact. After decades of reckless underinvestment, Germany, the world's fourth-largest economy and the biggest in Europe, has announced plans for a dramatic increase in defence spending, and has accepted in principle that German spending must eventually rise to 5 per cent of GDP if it is serious about defending its own borders from a potential attack by Russia. France, which has barely reached the agreed minimum 2 per cent of GDP on defence in recent years, has announced that it will push European defence spending levels to 3-3.5 per cent of GDP ahead of the Hague summit. Even Belgium, one of Nato's most lacklustre members, has declared it will boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP. The UK has just announced a $20 billion investment in its nuclear warhead programme, and the construction of 12 nuclear-powered attack submarines, as part of its new Strategic Defence Review, released this month. The Baltic States and Poland are already building on their robust records by pledging significant further increases in the years ahead. Poland will spend 4.7 per cent of GDP on defence this year, while Estonia has committed to spending 5.4 per cent through until 2029. Lithuania will spend 5-6 per cent on defence from 2026 to 2030, and Latvia will spend 5 per cent by 2026. The positive developments in Europe should be warmly welcomed in Washington. In just the first few months of his presidency, Donald Trump has already significantly strengthened Nato. President Trump is not the alliance's destroyer, as his critics have alleged, but is in fact its saviour. Previous US presidents had urged European allies to do more, but their entreaties fell on deaf ears. It took the no-nonsense straight talk of Donald Trump to make European leaders sit up and take notice. In many ways the Trump presidency has been the antithesis of the weak-kneed Biden presidency. The humiliating debacle of Biden's reckless Afghanistan withdrawal would not have happened under Donald Trump, and nor would Russia's reckless invasion of Ukraine. With bold US leadership at the helm, Nato still has the vision, capacity and energy to thrive and prosper for another 76 years. American exceptionalism is the most powerful force for liberty in the world today. It is greatly strengthened by America's alliances with key partners, and Nato is at the very heart of the transatlantic partnership.
Rhyl Journal
34 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Zelensky welcomed to No 10 for meeting with Starmer ahead of Nato summit
The Ukrainian president arrived in Downing Street where he was expected to discuss Britain's ongoing support for his war-torn nation on Monday afternoon, after being welcomed to Windsor Castle for lunch with Charles. Mr Zelensky, who is usually seen wearing military fatigues, wore a black blazer and trousers throughout his Monday visits. He and Sir Keir embraced on the doorstep of No 10, where a red carpet had been rolled out for the Ukrainian leader. Charles and Mr Zelensky were earlier pictured chatting as they made their way through Windsor Castle, and smiling as they shook hands in the Grand Corridor. During his visit to London, the Ukrainian leader was also welcomed to the Palace of Westminster and met Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and his Lords counterpart, Lord McFall of Alcluith. His arrival in the UK follows reports that Russia fired 352 drones and 16 missiles at Ukraine overnight, killing at least 10 civilians including seven in Kyiv. Mr Zelensky said preliminary reports indicated Russia had used North Korean missiles to attack Kyiv and described those two countries, and Iran, as a 'coalition of murderers'. His visit to London takes place the day before Nato leaders are set to meet in The Hague for a two-day summit, with increased defence spending top of the agenda. Mr Zelensky has been invited to the summit but will not take part in its main discussions, and it is still unclear whether he will attend at all. Ahead of the visit, a Downing Street spokesman said Sir Keir would 'reiterate our steadfast support for Ukraine' during his meeting with Mr Zelensky.
Reuters
43 minutes ago
- Reuters
Axios: Iran launches six missiles toward US bases in Qatar
WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) - Axios, citing an Israeli official, reported on Monday that Iran had launched six missiles toward U.S. bases in Qatar. Axios had earlier reported that Iran was preparing to fire missiles at the bases.
