In a significant escalation of the Ukraine conflict, Russia executed a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv and its surrounding areas, deploying its hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile for the third time in the ongoing war. This assault resulted in the deaths of at least four people and left approximately 100 others injured, as stated by Ukrainian officials.
Targeting both Kyiv and the nearby city of Bila Tserkva, the attack inflicted severe damage on residential structures, educational institutions, water facilities, government buildings, and a major marketplace. Fires erupted across multiple districts as the barrage of nearly 600 drones and 90 missiles, including numerous ballistic missiles, rained down. Despite Ukraine’s efforts to intercept many of these projectiles, several managed to hit central regions of Kyiv, leading to extensive destruction.
Moscow confirmed its use of the Oreshnik missile alongside other advanced missile technologies, asserting that the strikes were aimed at Ukrainian military targets in response to purported Ukrainian offensives within Russian-held territories. Meanwhile, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that every district of the capital sustained damage, with emergency responders working to rescue those trapped and extinguish the resulting blazes.
Among the sites affected by the attacks were Ukraine’s National Art Museum and sections of the foreign ministry building. Ukrainian officials condemned the strikes as intentional assaults on civilian infrastructure and cultural assets. European leaders reacted strongly, with French President Emmanuel Macron denouncing the application of the Oreshnik missile as a perilous escalation and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz labeling it as reckless. The European Union accused Russia of employing terror tactics against the civilian populace.
First introduced by Russia in late 2024, the Oreshnik missile is capable of delivering nuclear or conventional payloads at hypersonic speeds. Although Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed it is nearly impossible to intercept, some Western analysts have expressed skepticism about these assertions. This latest attack followed closely on the heels of Putin’s warnings of retaliation against alleged Ukrainian drone strikes in areas under Russian control.