A devastating overnight missile and drone barrage on Kyiv Tuesday left at least 28 civilians dead and more than 130 injured, marking one of the deadliest Russian attacks on Ukraine’s capital in months. The coordinated strike, lasting nearly nine hours, comes amid a critical juncture in international diplomacy over the war — and fresh divisions between Ukraine and its Western allies.
The June 17 assault began with waves of Iranian-made Shahed drones, followed by cruise and ballistic missiles, shaking multiple districts across the city. Ukraine’s Air Force reported intercepting 428 out of 472 aerial threats, including 239 drones and 15 Kh-101 missiles. Still, a residential complex in the Solomianskyi district was directly hit, with entire sections reduced to rubble. Among the dead is a 62-year-old US citizen.
President Volodymyr Zelensky called the barrage “one of the most horrifying attacks on Kyiv,” describing it as an act of terrorism designed to coincide with the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Canada. “This is not warfare — it is slaughter. The world must respond,” Zelensky said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko declared June 18 a day of mourning, and reported that cluster munitions had been found at the impact sites.
The attack severely damaged civilian infrastructure, including a kindergarten, a postal service center, and a key rail freight line. A major clothing manufacturer supplying Ukraine’s military also suffered a direct hit and suspended operations indefinitely.
Just hours after the bombardment, President Zelensky arrived at the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada — a trip that had been anticipated to include a pivotal meeting with US President Donald Trump. That meeting was canceled after Trump left the summit early to address rising tensions in the Middle East.
Zelensky, speaking to reporters, implored allies for stronger military support and tougher sanctions. “We are open to peace negotiations, but we need leverage,” he said, indirectly pressing the United States to take a firmer stance.
Tensions between Trump and Zelensky have flared in recent months. Their last in-person meeting ended in heated debate over what Trump described as Ukraine’s “lack of gratitude.” The cooling relationship now threatens to undercut Ukraine’s position at a time when Russian aggression is intensifying.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged the G7 to “achieve peace through strength” by imposing harsher sanctions on Moscow. But signs point to waning US appetite for escalation.
On the same day as the Kyiv strike, Reuters reported that a US government task force designed to craft strategies for ending the war was quietly disbanded. Established earlier this year, the interagency group reportedly lost relevance as Trump showed little interest in applying meaningful pressure on the Kremlin.
An anonymous official told Reuters, “It lost steam… Instead of doing more, [Trump] wanted to do less.” The move has deepened concerns about the future of US support for Ukraine, especially with the Pentagon announcing cuts to military aid in its upcoming 2026 budget.
Trump has repeatedly voiced frustration with both Moscow and Kyiv, calling Russia’s removal from the G8 a “mistake” and openly questioning the utility of further US involvement in the war.
Trump’s early G7 departure was spurred by a rapidly escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. On June 17, Axios and CNN reported that the US president is now seriously considering military strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. In a Truth Social post, Trump demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and hinted at potential targeting of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to mediate between Tehran and Tel Aviv — a suggestion swiftly dismissed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who cited Moscow’s own war crimes in Ukraine.
Zelensky’s government has voiced support for Israel and condemned Iran’s role in supplying drones to Russia. Tehran has become a central player in the Kremlin’s military campaign, contributing thousands of drones and missiles used in attacks like the one on Kyiv.
Ukraine also escalated its own asymmetric campaign against Russian infrastructure this week. On June 14, a Ukrainian drone strike hit the Nevinnomyssk Azot chemical plant in Russia’s Stavropol Krai — a key supplier of ammonium nitrate and other materials used in Moscow’s weapons production.
The strike forced the plant to halt operations, Ukrainian intelligence confirmed. The facility, part of the EuroChem Group owned by sanctioned billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, is reportedly integral to Russia’s defense manufacturing. Ukrainian officials emphasized the strategic importance of targeting such dual-use sites to undermine Russia’s war machine.
The past week has illustrated the increasing brutality of Russia’s campaign, the vulnerability of Ukrainian cities, and the geopolitical uncertainty gripping Ukraine’s most crucial alliances. As Zelensky continues his diplomatic push at the G7, he does so with his capital under fire, his people in mourning, and the future of US support hanging in the balance.
Compiled by Ana Dumbadze
