Russian Airstrikes Kill at Least 14 Across Ukraine as President Zelenskyy Visits UK for Defense Talks
Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine overnight have killed at least 14 people and injured dozens more, Ukrainian officials said Monday, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the United Kingdom for diplomatic meetings focused on defense and support.
The heaviest toll came in the capital, Kyiv, where nine people died after a missile strike caused part of a five-story apartment building to collapse in the Shevchenkivskyi district. Emergency responders rescued at least 10 people from the rubble, including a pregnant woman. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russian forces launched 352 drones and decoys, along with 16 missiles, including ballistic and cruise variants. Most were intercepted or jammed before impact, officials said.
Elsewhere, in the southern Odesa region, a ballistic missile destroyed a high school, killing two staff members. No students were present due to summer vacation. President Zelenskyy described the strike as “absolutely insane,” criticizing what he called deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure.
Additional casualties occurred in Bila Tserkva and the Chernihiv region. One person was reported killed and several injured, including children, in drone strikes on residential areas and a hospital.
The latest wave of Russian strikes comes less than a week after an earlier attack in Kyiv killed 28 people. Russian forces have intensified their campaign of long-range strikes on urban centers in recent weeks, a tactic analysts suggest is aimed at undermining civilian morale as Russia attempts to advance along the eastern front.
Speaking to reporters during his trip to the UK, Zelenskyy reiterated that Russian attacks appear to involve weapons sourced from other countries. He said preliminary evidence suggests North Korean missiles were used in some of the recent strikes, calling the collaboration between Russia, North Korea, and Iran—a supplier of drones to Russia—a “coalition of murderers.”
While in London, Zelenskyy met privately with King Charles III and was scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Discussions were expected to center on bolstering Ukraine’s air defense systems and diplomatic strategy ahead of a NATO summit in the Netherlands.
Footage released by Ukraine’s emergency services showed civilians being led away from damaged residential buildings, while subway stations—often used as bomb shelters—were once again filled with residents seeking refuge. One attack damaged the entrance to a central Kyiv metro station and several university buildings.
Despite the destruction, Ukrainian forces continue efforts to repel Russian advances. Commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky told reporters Ukraine intends to escalate its own strikes against Russian positions.
Meanwhile, diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the war have made little headway. The last round of direct talks, held three weeks ago, resulted only in agreements on prisoner and body exchanges. No new negotiations have been scheduled.
Zelenskyy is also expected to attend a NATO dinner in The Hague on Tuesday, amid ongoing discussions on further international military and humanitarian support for Ukraine.
BBC and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
