Fact Check: "Russia's mass missile attack on Kyiv killed 30 and injured 172 in just nine hours."
What We Know
On June 17, 2025, a significant missile and drone attack by Russia targeted Kyiv, resulting in substantial casualties. Reports from various sources indicate that local officials initially reported 15 deaths and 156 injuries due to the attack, which included strikes on residential buildings and lasted for nearly nine hours (AP News). The Ukrainian Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko, later revised the death toll to 10, explaining that some remains initially thought to be from multiple victims were actually from the same individual (New York Times).
However, other reports have cited higher figures, with some sources claiming that the attack resulted in 28 to 30 deaths and 142 to 172 injuries across the city (PBS, Kyiv Independent). The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that the assault involved 440 drones and 32 missiles, marking it as one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv in recent times (New York Times).
Analysis
The claim that "Russia's mass missile attack on Kyiv killed 30 and injured 172" is partially true. While initial reports from reliable news outlets like the Associated Press and the New York Times confirmed lower casualty figures, subsequent reports from other credible sources indicated higher numbers. The discrepancies in reported casualties can be attributed to the chaotic nature of the aftermath and the ongoing recovery efforts, which often lead to evolving figures as more information becomes available.
The AP News report, which is a reputable source, stated that 15 people were killed and 156 were injured (AP News). This aligns with the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's initial report. However, the New York Times and PBS later reported higher figures, with the Kyiv Independent stating that the attack resulted in 30 deaths and 172 injuries (PBS, Kyiv Independent). The reliability of these sources is generally high, but the variation in numbers suggests that the situation was fluid and evolving.
The New York Times also noted that the Ukrainian Air Force intercepted a significant number of the drones and missiles, which may have prevented even higher casualties (New York Times). This context is essential in understanding the scale of the attack and its impact.
Conclusion
The claim that "Russia's mass missile attack on Kyiv killed 30 and injured 172 in just nine hours" is partially true. While initial reports indicated lower casualty figures, later updates from credible sources suggested that the death toll could indeed be as high as 30, with injuries reported at 172. The evolving nature of casualty figures in the aftermath of such attacks reflects the chaotic conditions and the ongoing efforts to assess the full impact.
Sources
- Overnight Russian attack on Ukraine kills 15 and injures 156
- Russia kills at least 18 in strikes on Kyiv, other cities
- Russian Drone and Missile Strikes on Kyiv Kill at Least 10
- Attacks in Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- At Least 30 Killed in Ukraine After Russian Missile Attacks
- Ricerca Anagrammi Parole Italiane - Dizy
- Ukraine's Zelenskyy calls for more pressure on Russia after ...
- 'A brutal strike' — Massive Russian missile and drone ...
