Kyiv struck by hypersonic Oreshnik missiles in third known deployment

Russian forces launched a large-scale offensive against Kyiv in the early hours of Saturday, 24 May 2026, utilising hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missiles alongside a significant swarm of drones and other projectiles. The assault, which began shortly after 01:00 local time, resulted in at least four fatalities and more than 60 injuries, with damage reported to residential buildings across multiple districts of the capital.

This attack marks the third known deployment of the Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile by Russian forces in the conflict. President Vladimir Putin has previously characterised the weapon as impossible to intercept, citing its reported speed of more than 10 times the speed of sound. The specific number of hypersonic missiles used in this particular wave was not detailed, though they formed part of the broader arsenal deployed during the overnight strike.

Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, described the event as a "mass ballistic missile attack." The offensive involved approximately 600 drones and 90 air-, sea-, and ground-launched projectiles in addition to the hypersonic missiles. Ukrainian air defence systems reported destroying some incoming projectiles, although specific success rates against the hypersonic component remain unquantified.

The strike follows explicit threats from Moscow to retaliate for deadly Ukrainian drone strikes in the Russian-occupied town of Starobilsk. This escalation continues a cycle of retaliatory attacks between Kyiv and Moscow, a pattern that the United Nations has continued to condemn. A previous large-scale Russian ballistic missile attack struck Kyiv early on Sunday, wounding at least five people and causing further damage to residential infrastructure.

Casualty figures and the precise breakdown of injuries by cause, such as direct hits versus structural collapse, have not been fully detailed in the initial reports. The incident underscores the ongoing volatility of the conflict and the continued use of advanced strategic weaponry in urban centres.