Russia hits Kiev, Odessa in largescale aerial assault
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Russia launched massive airstrikes on Kiev and Odessa as Ukraine reports 277 drones intercepted.
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Black smoke and fire rise above the burning garages following Russia's massive missile and drone attack in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 10, 2025 (AP)
Russia launched one of its largest air assaults on Kiev since the start of the Ukraine war, with at least three people reported killed in the overnight bombardment, Ukrainian officials said.
The attack followed what Kiev said was the largest drone assault of the war the day before. Moscow said the latest escalation was in retaliation for recent Ukrainian strikes, including one that targeted strategic bombers on June 1 and a bridge explosion that left seven dead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the strike on Kiev as “one of the largest attacks” on the capital in over three years of war. “Russian missile and Shahed drone strikes drown out the efforts of the United States and others around the world to force Russia into peace,” he said.
Blow 'to the soul of all Ukraine'
In Kiev, explosions and fires lit up the night sky across seven of the city's ten districts.
One person was confirmed dead in Kiev, and four others were hospitalized. Meanwhile, in the southern city of Odessa, a drone attack hit a maternity hospital, emergency medical facilities, and residential buildings. Regional governor Oleh Kiper confirmed that two men were killed. Medical staff were able to evacuate patients before the worst of the strikes.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia had fired 315 drones nationwide overnight, of which 277 were intercepted. All seven cruise missiles were also shot down, according to official statements. However, debris from downed drones caused fires and structural damage in several areas.
Ukraine's defenses pushed to limits
A US State Department spokesperson condemned the attacks, stating, “Russia’s strikes against Ukraine’s cities need to stop immediately,” and reiterated support for Ukraine while calling for an end to the war.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed responsibility for the strike, saying it had used precision-guided munitions to hit military targets in Kiev, according to state media outlet TASS.
With air raid sirens blaring for over five hours through the night, Kiev’s military administrator Timur Tkachenko summed up the situation: “A difficult night for all of us.”
US saw strike coming
US officials who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said Sunday that the US believed Russia had not yet fully retaliated for last weekend’s unprecedented Ukrainian drone strike on its airbases and is preparing a sweeping, multi-pronged military response.
Despite a barrage of Russian missiles and drones targeting Kiev on Friday, US intelligence sources indicate this was only a preliminary response, with a more severe offensive expected in the coming days.
One US official said the looming retaliation is expected to be “asymmetrical,” implying it will not mirror Ukraine’s tactics but could employ a diverse array of Russian air capabilities, including cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones.
The anticipated strike is believed to be both symbolic and punitive, possibly aimed at high-profile Ukrainian targets such as government buildings, intelligence centers, or defense industry facilities.
Tensions rise as Putin vows response
Putin reportedly told US President Donald Trump during a phone call on Wednesday that Russia “would have to respond” to Ukraine’s drone campaign. Trump, in turn, publicly discouraged Putin from further escalation, saying, “Don’t do it. You should stop it.” Still, Trump acknowledged the seriousness of the threat, telling reporters, “It’s probably not going to be pretty… There’s a lot of hatred.”
The Russian military launched a series of mass strikes on Ukrainian military targets, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Friday, in response to what it dubbed as "terrorist attacks" by Kiev.
"Last night, in response to the terrorist actions of the Kiev regime, the armed forces of the Russian Federation carried out a massive strike with long-range air, sea, and ground-based high-precision weapons, as well as with strike UAVs against design bureaus, enterprises producing and repairing weapons and military hardware of Ukraine, attack drone assembly workshops, flight training centers, and AFU weapons and military hardware depots," the ministry said on Telegram.
The targets included design bureaus, military hardware production and repair facilities, drone assembly workshops, flight training centers, and depots of weapons and military equipment belonging to Ukraine's armed forces (AFU).
