Zelenskyy condemns 'horrific attacks' as Russian strikes kill 12 and wound 40 in Ukraine

Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine killed at least 12 civilians and wounded 40 more on June 29, officials and reports said, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks and renewed calls for stronger air defenses.

The strikes hit multiple regions in a single day, including Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Sumy. They also disrupted electricity in eight regions, adding pressure to the grid during hot weather and high power demand.

Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Sumy

In Dnipro, a missile struck infrastructure and killed six people, Dnipropetrovsk regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said. Another 29 people were wounded there, making it the deadliest single strike in the report.

In Zaporizhzhia, drones hit a passenger minibus, killing three people and wounding six, including a child, according to Zelenskyy and AP's account of his social media post.

In Sumy region, drones killed a 69-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man, according to the National Police of Ukraine.

Together, those attacks brought the confirmed nationwide toll to at least 12 dead and 40 injured. AP noted earlier in the day that casualty figures were lower, underscoring that the toll was still being confirmed as rescue work continued.

Zelenskyy's response

Zelenskyy described the strikes as horrific attacks and used the new wave of casualties to renew his appeal for stronger European air defenses against ballistic threats.

His comments reflected a broader pressure point for Ukraine: repeated Russian missile and drone attacks on cities and infrastructure continue to force Kyiv to ask allies for more systems that can intercept incoming weapons before they reach populated areas.

Power and infrastructure damage

Beyond the deaths and injuries, the attacks disrupted electricity in eight regions. That left parts of the country dealing with additional strain on the grid just as hot weather pushed demand higher.

The research packet does not yet provide a full damage assessment for all affected areas, and officials may still revise the casualty total as recovery and documentation continue.

What happens next

Further updates are expected from Ukrainian authorities, including regional administrations and emergency services, as they continue to assess casualties and grid damage.

The key open question is whether the death toll rises or falls as more information comes in. Another is how long power disruptions will last in the eight affected regions.

The attacks fit a pattern of repeated Russian strikes on Ukrainian urban areas and infrastructure, with Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia remaining frequent targets in the war.