Russia Launches Hypersonic Missile Attack on Kyiv
In a significant escalation, Russia employed the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile during a large-scale drone and missile offensive on Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least two individuals, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This incident marks the third deployment of this weapon in the four-year conflict.
The intense assault caused widespread damage across the Ukrainian capital, affecting areas near government offices, residential neighborhoods, schools, and a market, Ukrainian authorities reported. At least 83 people sustained injuries in the strike. Throughout the night, air raid sirens echoed as smoke from the attacks filled the air. Reporters from the Associated Press noted powerful explosions near the city center and close to government buildings.
According to Ukraine’s Air Force, the assault involved 600 strike drones and 90 missiles launched from air, sea, and ground. Ukrainian air defenses managed to destroy and jam 549 of the drones and 55 of the missiles; however, 19 missiles missed their targets. Albania’s foreign minister, Ferit Hoxha, condemned the attack as “unacceptable” after the residence of the Albanian ambassador to Ukraine was struck.
The Oreshnik missile, equipped to carry nuclear or conventional warheads, hit the city of Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region, Zelenskyy stated on Telegram. Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the missile’s use, targeting Ukrainian military command and control sites, air bases, and military industrial facilities. The attack was framed as retaliation against Ukrainian actions on Russian territory.
Following a recent drone strike on a college dormitory in Russian-held eastern Ukraine, which Moscow attributed to Kyiv, Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered military retaliation. This strike resulted in 21 fatalities, with 42 further injuries reported.
During a U.N. Security Council emergency session requested by Russia, Ukrainian Ambassador Andrii Melnyk refuted Russian allegations of war crimes, calling them propaganda. Kyiv’s European allies, such as Emmanuel Macron of France and Friedrich Merz of Germany, decried the Russian strikes and the use of the Oreshnik missile. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas mentioned forthcoming discussions among EU diplomats aimed at increasing pressure on Russia.
While Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted several missiles, Zelenskyy acknowledged that not all were intercepted, leading to significant damage in Kyiv. The ongoing shortage of air defense missiles capable of tackling ballistic threats highlights Ukraine’s reliance on U.S. Patriot systems, which remain in limited supply.
Damages from the attack spanned across 50 locations, including residential, commercial, and educational buildings, as reported by Ukraine’s emergency services. Fires raged into the morning, complicating rescue efforts. Kyiv resident Svitlana Onofryichuk expressed her devastation, stating her plans to leave after losing her job due to the damage.
In other areas, such as Kyiv’s Shevchenko district, a missile strike resulted in a fire and loss of life. Additional structural damages were reported throughout the region.
A civilian death was also reported in the Russian town of Grayvoron, attributed to a Ukrainian drone strike, signaling ongoing regional tensions.