Russian forces launched a massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv early Monday morning, June 23, striking residential areas and causing deadly destruction.
One of the hardest-hit sites was a residential high-rise in the Shevchenkivskyi district, where an entire entrance section collapsed. Authorities confirmed at least nine people dead and dozens injured. Rescuers are still working to clear the rubble and search for survivors.
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“It was a Korean missile, they just found some parts,” said a firefighter at the scene around 3 p.m. local time, speaking on condition of anonymity as recovery operations continued.
Early on Monday morning, June 23, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with strike drones as well as cruise and ballistic missiles. The main targets were Kyiv and the Kyiv region, with widespread damage recorded to residential and administrative buildings in the capital.
Kyiv Post journalists across the city reported hearing powerful explosions, air defense activity, and the distinct sounds of ballistic missile impacts.
The State Emergency Service (DSNS) confirmed the large-scale shelling using both missiles and drones.
“Residential areas, hospitals, and sports infrastructure were targeted,” the report said.
In Kyiv, the Shevchenkivskyi, Podilskyi, Holosiivskyi, Svyatoshynskyi, Solomyanskyi, and Darnytskyi districts were affected by the shelling.
Initially, the DSNS reported that four people died, adding that its workers rescued 10 people with injuries, all of whom are now receiving medical and psychological assistance.
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“The clearing of the rubble continues. According to our data, there are still people trapped under the ruins,” the report said.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko later reported that five people had died in the destroyed building in Shevchenkivskyi district.
“In total, there are 19 people injured across the city. Eight of them are hospitalized. Rescuers and medics remain on the scene,” he said.
In the latest update at 8:31 a.m., Timur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration (KMVA), reported that six people had been confirmed dead, and 10 had been rescued, including two children and a pregnant woman.
As of now, rescue teams continue clearing the rubble to save as many lives as possible.
“There are currently eight known casualties at this address, including one child. Across Kyiv, there are 14 confirmed injuries, but this number may still rise,” Tkachenko wrote.
He added that Russia is once again “hitting human lives and destinies.”
“Today, their goal was to kill people living in an ordinary residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district. Once again, this was a direct strike on a civilian target,” Tkachenko said.
Later, he reported that search and rescue operations are ongoing in the Shevchenkivskyi district.
“According to our information, three more people may still be trapped under the rubble. Rescuers are fully focused on clearing the debris as quickly as possible to reach them,” he wrote.
Shortly after that Tkachenko clarified that as of 11:00 a.m. in Kyiv, the number of confirmed victims had increased to 31 people.
As of 12:31 p.m., rescuers have recovered the body of the seventh victim in the Shevchenkivskyi district, as per Tkachenko’s report.
Tkachenko later confirmed the eighth and ninth victims of the Russian missile attack.
“The ninth victim of the Russian strike is an 11-year-old girl. Earlier, her mother’s body was also recovered from under the rubble. I extend my sincere condolences to the family,” he wrote.
The DSNS reported at 7:50 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24, that search and rescue operations in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv had been completed.
“A Russian missile strike on June 23 claimed the lives of nine people. Emergency and recovery work is ongoing at the site, where specialists are dismantling hazardous structures,” the DSNS said.
As a result of the shelling, infrastructure at the Svyatoshyn metro station was damaged, temporarily closing Exit No. 8 to Chornobayivska Square (Heroes of Brest) toward the bridge.
The remaining entrances and exits are working as usual, and the metro system continues to operate without disruption.
In the Kyiv region, falling debris ignited fires in private homes and damaged a hotel, killing one person and injuring several others.
Mykola Kalashnyk, head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, said the aftermath of the Russian attack was recorded in three districts.
In the Boryspil district, two private houses caught fire.
In the Bila Tserkva district, private homes and an apartment building were damaged. A hotel building, which also housed a medical facility, was destroyed.
In the Bucha district, four private buildings and three vehicles were damaged.
“Unfortunately, as a result of the attack in Bila Tserkva, a woman born in 1957 died from her injuries. Two people were hospitalized, and two more received medical assistance on the spot,” Kalashnyk reported.
According to the Air Force, from 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, until the morning of Monday, June 23, Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine using 352 Shahed attack UAVs and simulator drones of various types, 11 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and 5 Iskander-K cruise missiles.
The Air Force report, shared on Telegram, stated that the primary target of the attack was the city of Kyiv.
“According to preliminary data, as of 9:00 a.m., air defenses have neutralized 354 enemy air attack assets. Of these, 158 were shot down by direct fire, while 196 were neutralized by electronic warfare systems,” the Air Force reported.
The breakdown is as follows:
- 146 Shahed and other drones were shot down by direct fire;
- 193 drones were suppressed or lost due to electronic warfare;
- 7 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles were shot down, and 3 were lost/suppressed;
- 5 Iskander-K cruise missiles were successfully shot down.
Direct hits were recorded in six locations, and falling debris was reported in 25 locations across Kyiv and the Kyiv region.
“We express our sincere condolences to the families of those killed and injured,” the Air Force added.
This news may be updated as new information becomes available.
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