Kyiv, Ukraine – June 11, 2025 — Russia unleashed one of its largest air assaults on Ukraine overnight, striking the capital Kyiv and the southern port city of Odesa in a widespread attack that injured dozens and left at least two people dead.
Ukrainian officials confirmed that 315 drones were launched across the country during the night. In Kyiv alone, four people were injured and extensive damage was reported across seven of the city’s ten districts. Loud explosions echoed through the capital, lighting the night sky with flashes of orange as fires broke out in residential areas and warehouses. Debris from intercepted drones and missiles struck buildings across the city.
“This was one of the largest strikes on Kyiv,” President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on social media, as air raid sirens blared across much of the country. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned residents to remain in shelters as the capital came under sustained attack.
Further south, in Odesa, Russian drone strikes hit residential areas and medical facilities, including a maternity ward. Two people were killed, and 13 others were injured. Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said emergency responders managed to evacuate patients and staff before further damage occurred, though ambulances were destroyed in the assault.
Zelensky stated that two of the seven missiles fired were ballistic weapons of North Korean origin. He condemned the attacks, saying, “For yet another night, instead of a ceasefire, there were massive strikes.”
Other regions hit included Dnipro and Chernihiv, underscoring the wide scope of Russia’s offensive. The attacks come on the heels of Ukraine’s covert drone operation known as “Operation Spider’s Web,” which reportedly targeted air bases deep inside Russian territory on June 1. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to retaliate “very strongly” in a call with former U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Trump.
During the overnight conflict, Ukraine also launched drone attacks on Russian territory, prompting temporary airport closures across several Russian cities.
The renewed escalation comes amid a delicate prisoner swap process that began on Monday. The exchange aims to return sick and seriously wounded prisoners of war, those under 25, and the remains of approximately 12,000 soldiers. Zelensky described the operation as “complicated” and involving “many sensitive details.”
The war, sparked by Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, shows no signs of easing, with both sides intensifying their military operations.