Zelensky Honors Kyiv Strike Victims: ‘Russia Chooses Murder Over Ceasefire’

President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the site of a Russian missile strike in Kyiv’s Solomyanskyi district after returning from Canada, paying tribute to the victims of the June 17 attack.

According to the President’s Office, Zelensky laid flowers at the destroyed entrance of the residential building, where 23 residents were killed.

He emphasized that the strike is a brutal reminder to the world that Russia rejects any ceasefire and continues to choose violence.

“This shelling is a reminder to everyone: Russia rejects the ceasefire and chooses murder,” Zelensky said. “I am grateful to all our partners who understand that Ukraine must become stronger every day. I thank everyone who is ready to put real pressure on Moscow so they can feel the true cost of this war.”

Zelensky had been in Canada the previous day for the G7 summit.

Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak also honored the victims alongside the president, later writing on Telegram: “Russia is a terrorist organization disguised as a state.”

Ukrainian officials reported on Wednesday that at least 28 people were killed in what has become one of the deadliest Russian attacks on Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion more than three years ago.

Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko said the search and rescue operation in Kyiv’s Solomyanskyi district lasted more than 39 hours.

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According to Klymenko, 23 bodies were recovered from the rubble of a nine-story apartment building in Solomyanskyi. In total, the June 17 Russian attack on Kyiv killed 28 people and injured another 142.

He said that more than 400 rescuers and more than 200 pieces of equipment were involved in the elimination of the consequences of the attack. According to him, 500 residents have submitted applications for documentation of the loss of their homes.

The assault began early Tuesday when Russia launched dozens of missiles and drones across Ukraine. At the time, Zelensky called it “one of the most horrific attacks” Kyiv has experienced during the war.

Russia’s defense ministry claimed its forces targeted “military-industrial facilities” in the Kyiv region, repeating a familiar statement issued after previous large-scale attacks.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian leader Vladimir Putin denied that the June 17 strikes targeted civilians, despite the extensive destruction of residential buildings and civilian casualties.

“If your journalists had seen how our missiles destroyed entire residential blocks, they would hardly have been able to tell you anything about it because they would not have survived,” he said.

“What they saw was from the side. The strikes were not on residential areas but on defense industry targets, on factories producing military equipment,” Putin added, insisting the attacks are part of Russia’s goal of “demilitarizing Ukraine.”