In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia unleashed a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv and surrounding areas, employing the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile for just the third time in the course of the Ukraine war. Ukrainian authorities reported that the assault resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals and left approximately 100 others injured. Residential buildings, schools, government offices, a water facility, and a large market suffered damage, with fires erupting in multiple districts across the region.
The strikes, which targeted the capital Kyiv and the nearby city of Bila Tserkva, were confirmed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. These attacks involved nearly 600 drones and 90 missiles, including several ballistic ones. While Ukraine’s defense systems managed to intercept many of the incoming threats, some missiles struck central areas of Kyiv, causing extensive destruction. Russian officials admitted to deploying the Oreshnik missile alongside other sophisticated missile systems, asserting that the attacks were aimed at Ukrainian military infrastructure as a retaliatory measure to alleged Ukrainian incursions in Russian-held territories.
Kyiv’s Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, detailed the widespread damage across every district of the capital, as emergency services worked tirelessly to rescue individuals trapped in shelters and to extinguish fires triggered by the explosions. Among the affected structures were Ukraine’s National Art Museum and portions of the foreign ministry building, which Ukrainian officials condemned as deliberate assaults on civilian infrastructure and cultural heritage sites.
International condemnation swiftly followed, with European leaders expressing strong disapproval of the offensive. French President Emmanuel Macron labeled the use of the Oreshnik missile as a dangerous escalation, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the actions as reckless. The European Union also weighed in, accusing Russia of employing terror tactics against the civilian population.
The Oreshnik missile, introduced by Russia in late 2024, is noted for its capability to carry either nuclear or conventional warheads and its purported hypersonic speed, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed makes it nearly impossible to intercept. However, these assertions have been met with skepticism by western analysts. This latest wave of attacks came on the heels of warnings from Putin about potential retaliation following alleged Ukrainian drone strikes in areas under Russian control.