In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia launched an extensive missile and drone attack on Kyiv and its surrounding areas, deploying the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile for the third time since the war in Ukraine began. The assault resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals and left approximately 100 others injured, as reported by Ukrainian officials. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Kyiv and the city of Bila Tserkva were the primary targets, with the strikes causing extensive damage to residential areas, educational institutions, a water facility, government buildings, and a major market, igniting fires across multiple districts.
The Ukrainian defense reported that nearly 600 drones and 90 missiles, including numerous ballistic missiles, were launched during the nighttime offensive. Although a significant number were intercepted, several managed to hit central Kyiv, leading to widespread destruction. Russia acknowledged the use of the Oreshnik missile alongside other advanced systems, claiming the operation aimed at Ukrainian military infrastructure in retaliation for alleged Ukrainian strikes within Russian-held territories.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko of Kyiv detailed damage throughout every district of the capital, with emergency responders working to rescue individuals trapped in shelters and extinguish fires triggered by the blasts. The barrage also inflicted damage on Ukraine’s National Art Museum and parts of the foreign ministry, with Ukrainian officials condemning the strikes as intentional attacks on civilian infrastructure and cultural sites.
International condemnation swiftly followed, with European leaders denouncing the assault. French President Emmanuel Macron described the deployment of the Oreshnik missile as a perilous escalation, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz labeled the action reckless. European Union representatives accused Russia of employing terror tactics against civilians. The Oreshnik missile, introduced by Russia in late 2024, is known for its capability to carry nuclear or conventional warheads and its purported hypersonic speed, claims of which have been met with skepticism by some Western analysts.
This latest offensive took place shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin issued warnings of retaliation in response to alleged Ukrainian drone attacks in areas under Russian control, marking a tense and dangerous phase in the conflict.