New wave of Russian air strikes: Kyiv and Odessa under attack!

New wave of Russian air strikes: Kyiv and Odessa under attack!

On June 17, 2025, Ukraine will again be hit by massive air strikes from Russia. Similar to the past few days, there were numerous fires in Kiev and other parts of the country today. According to Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, 27 sources of fire have now been registered, including residential buildings, educational institutions and critical infrastructure. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on Telegram that the population could hear numerous explosions and the sounds of drones and missiles.

A tragic event has already occurred in the capital: a US citizen was fatally injured in the attacks. This incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by Russian airstrikes. Power outages were also reported in Kiev, while the Ukrainian Air Force is talking about a massive attack with around 140 drones and their imitations.

Details of the attacks

According to reports, the Ukrainian armed forces were able to intercept 125 of the drones used, but the threat situation remains tense. Compared to the previous week, in which nearly 500 drones were deployed, today's attack scenario was less extensive but still significant. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that two Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian air defense units. Emergency teams are currently investigating the crash sites in Moscow.

The port city of Odessa was also affected by numerous drone attacks, which was confirmed by the city's mayor. These developments are part of a broader offensive that Russia has launched for over three years to destabilize Ukraine.

Russia's military strategy

After the Ukrainian “Operation Spiderweb”, which was able to carry out targeted attacks on Russian bombers, Russia has increasingly changed its strategy. Civilian targets are increasingly being targeted, which has led to a significant increase in air strikes. In 2024, the average number of air shells fired daily was less than 420. This number has risen sharply in recent days due to Russia's aggressive actions.

Analyzes show that the efficiency of Ukrainian air defense has now fallen from 85-90% to around 70-75%. This is mainly because Russia has improved its tactics and plans to increase production of Geran drones that can attack in swarms. These drones reach speeds of 400 to 450 km/h and are difficult to intercept. In addition, Russia uses decoy drones that imitate the radar reflection of their attack drones in order to outwit air defenses.

The aim of these attacks remains clear: to destroy Ukraine's infrastructure and break the morale of the civilian population. But historically, such attacks have been difficult to break citizens' morale through airstrikes alone, experts said.

In this tense situation, support from abroad is crucial. Britain has announced that it will provide Ukraine with two ships to clear mines in the Black Sea and secure export routes.

Current developments show once again the increased intensity of the conflict and the looming humanitarian crisis it is creating. Regardless of military successes, the future stability of the region remains at risk.

For detailed information about what is happening in Ukraine, you can read the following articles: Small newspaper, ZDF and Deutschlandfunk.