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ConflictsUkraine

Russia, Ukraine trade strikes as Zelenskyy talks with Trump

Midhat Fatimah AFP, Reuters
June 18, 2026

Ukraine hit Moscow's refinery while Kyiv was hit by Russian missiles. The attacks come as Zelenskyy intensified efforts to end the war.

Ukraine launched drone strikes on the outskirts of Moscow
Ukraine launched drone strikes on the outskirts of MoscowImage: André Ballin/dpa/picture alliance

Russia struck Kyiv with missiles overnight while Ukraine hit a major oil refinery in Moscow with drones hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with ‌US President Donald Trump ⁠and ⁠European leaders.

Multiple sources reported explosions in Kyiv. Authorities in the city of Sumy also reported one fatality.

"The enemy is attacking the capital with ballistic missiles. Stay in safe places until the air ​raid alert is over!" Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv's military administration, said in a Telegram post early on Thursday.

This is the second time Kyiv has come under attack this week. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has been trying to pressure Russia to end the war that has dragged on for more than four years.

Ukraine's attack in Russia

Ukrainian drones ‌hit the Moscow Oil Refinery (MNPZ), Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram, marking the second attack on the facility in a week.

Russia said on Thursday its ‌air defence ⁠systems ⁠had intercepted and ​destroyed 555 Ukrainian drones ​over multiple ​regions ‌overnight, while Sobyanin said ‌around 180 drones ‌heading ​for the capital had been ​downed.

"Air ⁠defense forces ​continue to repel a massive attack. Several drones managed to reach the Moscow oil refinery," Sobyanin said ​on Telegram.

The Moscow Oil Refinery was hit for a second time this weekImage: REUTERS

He added that a shopping centre on the outskirts of Moscow also suffered minor damage as a result of falling drone debris.

Flights at all ‌major ⁠Moscow airports ⁠have ​been temporarily suspended ​for ​safety ‌reasons after the ‌drone attack, ‌Russia's aviation ​authority, Rosaviatsiya, said on ​Thursday.

G7 wraps up after three days of relative harmony

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Authorities said 180 ⁠Ukrainian ​drones ​had ​been shot ‌down over Moscow.

Efforts to end Ukraine-Russia war

Zelenskyy said he had spoken to Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, plus other leaders, on the sidelines of a G7 meeting held in France. He described it as a "coordinating conversation" to ‌try to end the war.

On Wednesday, Trump said that Russia was losing more soldiers than Ukraine, after he suggested that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy seemed open to doing something about the war.

Putin had not discussed the possibility of a meeting with Zelenskyy during his ​latest phone call with Trump, the Kremlin said this week.

Edited by: Zac Crellin

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