[84769] Dramatic escalation in Ukraine: Massive attack on Kyiv, G7 summit proposal, and military service reform
[84769] Dramatic escalation in Ukraine: Massive attack on Kyiv, G7 summit proposal, and military service reform
Ukraine sustained an extensive missile and drone attack that caused deaths in Kharkiv and widespread destruction in Kyiv. At the same time, President Zelensky proposed an emergency meeting with Putin at the G7 summit, and new military developments and salary reforms were revealed.
Massive aerial attack across Ukraine
On the night between June 14 and 15, 2026, Ukraine experienced one of the most complex and severe combined aerial attacks in recent times. The attack included dozens of "Shahed" suicide drones, X-101 and X-555 cruise missiles launched from strategic bombers (Tu-160 and Tu-95MS), ballistic missiles, and hypersonic "Zircon" missiles.
- Destruction in and around Kyiv: In the capital, Kyiv, hits were reported at over 40 different locations across the city, including a direct hit on the "Comfort Town" residential complex (where a local school caught fire), a hit on a 25-story residential building in the Darnytskyi District, and a market in the Shuliavka neighborhood. Additionally, the Dovzhenko Film Studios were hit. A severe symbolic blow was recorded at the historic Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra complex, where a church dome collapsed directly onto the road. At least 20 civilians were injured in the capital.
- Deadly double strike in Kharkiv: Five firefighters were killed and five others injured in Kharkiv as a result of a "Double Tap" tactic, where rescue forces were attacked while attempting to extinguish a fire from a previous scene. In addition, a drone attack hit the Kharkiv city zoo, causing a fire, the destruction of cages, and the injury of animals.
- Heavy damage in Dnipro: Severe hits were recorded at cultural and educational institutions, including a music school, a college, and a concert hall, alongside industrial infrastructure.
Severe disruptions to infrastructure and transport
Following the damage to power infrastructure and the destruction of traffic arteries, widespread disruptions were recorded in public transportation in Kyiv, with full road closures and the shortening of tram and trolleybus lines. Simultaneously, the national railway company "Ukrzaliznytsia" reported delays of up to 4 hours in train schedules across the country, with emphasis on the Kharkiv-Lviv, Odesa-Kharkiv, and Odesa-Dnipro lines.
Diplomatic initiative and talks in the shadow of fire
Against the backdrop of the escalation, and in the middle of the G7 summit held in Évian-les-Bains, France (June 15–17, 2026), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted an official proposal for an urgent emergency meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in the presence of the leaders of the US and the European Union, with the goal of discussing an end to the war. Zelenskyy condemned the "cynical" timing of the attack, which was carried out immediately after Putin wished Donald Trump a happy birthday. At the same time, it was reported that Putin and Trump held a 55-minute "friendly" phone call. President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, promised that the G7 would increase pressure on Moscow.
SBU spy thwarting and unveiling of a new underwater weapon
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) recorded a significant achievement with the arrest of an FSB agent (a citizen of Palestinian descent) who posed as a tourist at a beach hotel in Kyiv and installed hidden surveillance cameras to track air defense systems and guide future missile strikes. Additionally, a Russian agent who attempted to sabotage railway tracks in the Cherkasy region was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
On the technological front, Ukraine unveiled at the Eurosatory arms exhibition in Paris the Sea Trident – an exceptionally heavy unmanned underwater vessel capable of carrying up to a ton of explosives to a range of about 3,700 km, and designed for striking strategic targets such as the Crimean Bridge. Alongside it, the jet-powered drone UAV-290, which reaches a speed of 800 km/h, was presented.
Military salary reform and naturalization horizon for refugees in Germany
- Military service reform: The Ukrainian government approved Decision No. 768, which introduces a new contract model (basic, combat, and assault) alongside a significant upgrade in soldiers' salaries. The maximum salary for a soldier on the first front line may reach up to 460,000 hryvnias per month, including special bonuses of 100,000 hryvnias for capturing a Russian prisoner and bonuses for conquering enemy positions.
- German citizenship for refugees: Ukrainian refugees who have been in Germany since the outbreak of the war in 2022 may be eligible to apply for naturalization starting in the spring of 2027. The application will be conditional on meeting strict criteria including proficiency in the German language at a B1 level, proof of independent income, and transitioning from temporary protection status to a permanent permit.