Nearly 42,000 People Sheltered in Kyiv Metro During Russia’s Overnight Air Attack

Nearly 42,000 people, including around 3,400 children, took shelter in Kyiv’s metro system during Russia’s large-scale overnight missile and drone attack on June 15, according to Kyiv Metro officials.

The municipal operator reported that the capital’s 46 underground metro stations, which serve as round-the-clock bomb shelters during air raid alerts, remained open throughout the attack. All station entrances were accessible to residents seeking protection.

According to Kyiv Metro, central stations including Zoloti Vorota, Teatralna, Maidan Nezalezhnosti, Khreshchatyk, Ploshcha Ukrainskykh Heroiv, and Palats Sportu are typically less crowded and can be used as alternatives during future air raid alerts.

The operator also issued recommendations for people using metro stations as shelters. Residents were advised to bring warm clothing, blankets, or sleeping mats, noting that temperatures inside stations generally remain between 17–18°C. Authorities also recommended carrying water, essential medications, hygiene supplies, and pet care items when applicable.

Officials asked shelter users to avoid bringing bulky items such as tents or inflatable mattresses and to keep access routes to station facilities, restrooms, and trains clear.

The number of people seeking refuge underground came during one of the largest aerial attacks against Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russian forces launched 681 aerial weapons overnight, including 70 missiles and 611 drones of various types. Kyiv was the primary target, while Dnipro and Kharkiv were also attacked.

Ukrainian air defenses reported intercepting or suppressing 632 targets, including 50 missiles and 582 drones. However, authorities recorded impacts from 20 ballistic missiles and 27 attack drones across multiple locations.

In Kyiv, the attack damaged the Dormition Cathedral at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra and a building belonging to the Mystetskyi Arsenal cultural complex. The Dovzhenko National Film Studio also reported damage, including the destruction of part of its historic costume collection.

As of June 15, Ukrainian authorities said five people had been killed in Kyiv and at least 35 others injured, including two children. Rescue operations were continuing.

The number of people sheltering in the metro was slightly higher than during another large-scale Russian attack on June 2, when more than 41,000 people, including nearly 4,500 children, sought refuge in Kyiv’s underground stations.

Earlier, more than 41,000 people, including nearly 4,500 children, sheltered in Kyiv’s metro system during a massive Russian missile and drone attack on June 2, which killed at least four people in the capital and injured 65 others.

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