play_arrow

keyboard_arrow_right

Listeners:

Top listeners:

skip_previous skip_next
00:00 00:00
playlist_play chevron_left
volume_up
  • cover play_arrow

Russia Launches Biggest Strike On Kyiv In Years (Worthy News Radio)

Background

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy news

KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Authorities in Ukraine say Russia has launched a large-scale drone and missile strike on Kyiv, injuring 15 people. It is seen as one of the biggest assaults on the Ukrainian capital since the war began over three years ago.

At least some people in Kyiv had been longing for peace amid the largest prisoner exchange since the war began. Yet their dreams of a peaceful future were brutally interrupted overnight, with officials saying Russia launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones in the early hours of Saturday.

The army claimed Ukrainian forces shot down six missiles and stopped most of the drones before they reached Kyiv.

Yet the reality of war was still visible.

Air defense systems were activated throughout the city as drone debris struck residential and non-residential buildings.

Witnesses said they hit apartment blocks in the Dniprovskyi district and a shopping center in Obolon in Kyiv’s northern suburbs.

Fires broke out on multiple building floors, with residents reportedly hospitalized and significant damage reported.

MOSCOW STRUCK

The strike comes just a day after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov vowed retaliation for over 800 recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian soil, including in Moscow.

An air alert in Kyiv lasted more than seven hours, underscoring the intensity and reach of the overnight attack.

The strike happened hours after Russia and Ukraine began their largest prisoner exchange since the war broke out more than three years ago.

Hundreds of soldiers and civilians, the first phase of a deal agreed in Istanbul, Turkey, were released.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that 1,000 prisoners would be released on each side over the coming days. He clarified that he hopes this will begin the road to peace.

“Ukraine wants peace,” he told reporters. He recalled, “The first step is to, as we indicated in our Istanbul visit, we wanted a ceasefire. We were ready. We couldn’t achieve it, but we’re working on it. Second one is an exchange of prisoners of war and civilians. We achieved a thousand for a thousand.”

However, Ukrainian and Russian delegates ultimately agreed that “firstly is exchanges. Second is a ceasefire,” he added.

THANKING PARTNERS

“And the third step is a leaders meeting. Our president came to Turkey and he was awaiting for a meeting. And after discussions with [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan, he decided to send a Ukrainian team that was led by me,” the minister stressed.

Umerov thanked U.S. President Donald J. Trump and European partners for seeking to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two.

More than a million people, including hundreds of thousands of soldiers, are believed to have been killed or injured since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The clashes have displaced millions more.

Among them were many women and children, who were often forced to flee alone, as many men had to stay behind.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.


Latest News from Worthy News

Israel and Hezbollah Agree To Ceasefire; Oil Price Falls
Israel and Hezbollah Agree To Ceasefire; Oil Price Falls
Friday, June 19, 2026

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire that was to begin Friday afternoon, Worthy News learned.

Ukraine Suffers New Strikes As EU Presses Russia For Ceasefire (Worthy News Radio)
Ukraine Suffers New Strikes As EU Presses Russia For Ceasefire (Worthy News Radio)
Friday, June 19, 2026

At least 10 people, including four children, were injured in a Russian strike on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukrainian authorities said Friday. In southern Ukraine, the State Emergency Service reported that one person was killed and four others were injured in a separate Russian attack on the Odesa region.

‘Policy Blunder’ or ‘Pathway To Peace’: Republicans Divided Over Iran Deal
‘Policy Blunder’ or ‘Pathway To Peace’: Republicans Divided Over Iran Deal
Thursday, June 18, 2026

President Donald Trump signed the temporary peace deal with Iran ahead of schedule Wednesday at the Palace of Versailles in France, kicking off negotiations over a final nuclear deal.

Khamenei’s MOU Statement Signals Tactical Pause, Not Peace, Analysts Warn
Khamenei’s MOU Statement Signals Tactical Pause, Not Peace, Analysts Warn
Thursday, June 18, 2026

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s statement following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United States is being viewed by analysts not as an embrace of peace, but as a carefully crafted declaration that preserves Tehran’s revolutionary posture while allowing the regime to regroup.

U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on Hezbollah-Linked Network Accused of Blocking Lebanon Peace Efforts
U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on Hezbollah-Linked Network Accused of Blocking Lebanon Peace Efforts
Thursday, June 18, 2026

The United States imposed new sanctions Thursday on individuals and entities linked to Hezbollah, accusing them of using political and financial influence to obstruct Lebanon’s peace process and delay the Iran-backed group’s disarmament.

Ukraine Launches Major Drone Attack On Moscow, Energy Targets
Ukraine Launches Major Drone Attack On Moscow, Energy Targets
Thursday, June 18, 2026

Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow since the war began, hitting a key oil refinery and other targets around the Russian capital, leaving at least one person dead and numerous others injured, Russian officials said.

Putin Courts ASEAN Leaders in Push for “Multipolar” Challenge to U.S. Influence
Putin Courts ASEAN Leaders in Push for “Multipolar” Challenge to U.S. Influence
Thursday, June 18, 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Southeast Asian leaders in Kazan this week as Moscow moved to deepen ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and promote its vision of a “multipolar world order” aimed at countering U.S. global dominance.

WHO WE ARE

The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.

CONTACT