Coordinated Assault Across Ukraine
On the night of June 15, Russia executed a large-scale, combined attack targeting Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and several other Ukrainian cities. The assault claimed 4 lives in Kyiv and 5 in Kharkiv, with an additional 28 people wounded in the capital and 9 in Kharkiv—among them a child in Sumy. The offensive involved 681 aerial weapons, including 70 missiles of various types:
- 6 Zircon anti-ship missiles;
- 34 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles;
- 30 Kh-101 and Iskander-K cruise missiles.
Ukrainian defense forces successfully intercepted 632 targets, comprising 50 missiles and 582 drones. However, 20 ballistic missiles and 27 drones hit 42 different locations. In Kyiv alone, over 60 missiles were launched, causing extensive damage. Notably, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra was struck, affecting the Dormition Cathedral and the Kushnik Tower. In Kharkiv, a second strike hit rescue workers, and energy infrastructure was damaged. Power outages affected consumers in the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Aftermath of the Attack
In Dnipro, a railway station, a college, and several industrial sites were hit. A multi-story residential building was destroyed in Sumy, and damage was reported in Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Mykolaiv regions. Of the 34 ballistic missiles fired, 15 were shot down—a relatively high success rate given the nature of the attack.
“Out of 34 missiles on ballistic trajectories, only 15 were intercepted—that’s a strong result for this type of assault. And of the Zircon missiles, we downed five—one of our best performances against that specific weapon,” stated Yurii Ihnat.
This attack represents yet another Russian crime against humanity, history, and Christianity, according to Metropolitan Epiphanius. The situation in Ukraine remains tense, and the full consequences of this bombardment are still being assessed.
This barrage is part of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, now in its second year. The increasing frequency of strikes on civilian infrastructure highlights a dangerous escalation, underscoring the urgent need to protect critical facilities and ensure civilian safety. The long-term impact of such assaults on Ukrainian society and the economy continues to deepen.
The recent assault on June 15 is part of a troubling pattern, as just days earlier, Russia launched another significant strike involving 729 missiles and drones. This escalation highlights the ongoing threat faced by Ukrainian cities and the urgent need for robust defense measures. For a closer look at the details of that overnight attack, including the scale and impact, read more about the recent missile barrage on Ukraine.