Russia strikes Kyiv with ballistic missiles hours after Zelensky, Trump, and Macron's coordination call at G7

Missile attack on Kyiv

Early Thursday, Russia launched ballistic missiles at Kyiv, triggering air raid alerts. AFP journalists heard a missile and two explosions and saw people running to shelters. Kyiv military administration chief Tymour Tkatchenko warned: "The enemy is attacking the capital with ballistic missiles. Stay in shelter until the air raid alert ends!" No immediate reports of casualties or damage were available.

Diplomatic flurry at G7

Hours earlier, on Wednesday, President Zelensky held what he called a "coordination conversation" with French President Macron and US President Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains. Zelensky said the discussion could "bring significant changes". On Tuesday, Trump, who has often been reluctant to back Kyiv, told the summit that Russia "should conclude an agreement" and that Washington could reimpose sanctions on Moscow. The EU, meanwhile, has been in diplomatic contact with the Kremlin to reopen communication channels, the office of European Council President Antonio Costa said.

Deadly drone strike on bus in Bryansk

In a separate attack on Wednesday, a drone strike hit a bus in Russia's Bryansk region, killing one female chaperone and wounding seven, including several children seriously injured. The bus was carrying 44 people, among them 28 young Belarusian athletes. Moscow and Minsk branded the strike a "terrorist act"; Kyiv denied any involvement and called the accusations "false". Russian authorities released images of the heavily damaged vehicle.

Wider escalation

1. Jun 17, 2026Trump tells G7 that Russia 'should conclude an agreement' and that Washington could reimpose sanctions
2. Jun 17, 2026Zelensky holds coordination call with Macron and Trump at Évian summit
3. Jun 17, 2026Drone strike hits bus in Bryansk, killing one chaperone and wounding seven, including children
4. Jun 18, 2026Russia fires ballistic missiles at Kyiv; air raid alerts, no immediate casualties reported

The attacks come amid a months-long intensification of strikes by both sides, with civilian casualties mounting. On Thursday, authorities in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, reported one person killed in a drone attack. Separately, a Russian warship fired warning shots at a British-flagged yacht in the English Channel on Tuesday after it came "dangerously close", according to Moscow's defense ministry, prompting a UK investigation.