Kyiv under mass ballistic assault as Russia deploys hypersonic Oreshnik missiles
Ukrainian authorities confirm the use of the difficult-to-intercept Oreshnik weapon in retaliation for strikes in occupied Luhansk, damaging 40 sites across the capital.
Russian forces launched a large-scale missile and drone offensive against Kyiv and the surrounding region in the early hours of Sunday, 24 May 2026, killing at least four people and wounding more than 60. The assault, which began shortly after 1am local time, involved hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missiles alongside 600 drones and 90 air-, sea-, and ground-launched projectiles.
Ukrainian air defences reported destroying or jamming 549 drones and 55 missiles, while 19 missiles failed to reach their intended targets. Despite these interceptions, the attack caused significant damage across 40 locations in the capital, including residential buildings, offices, shops, and a post office in Independence Square. Kyiv military administration head Tymur Tkachenko described the event on Telegram as a "mass ballistic missile attack."
Casualty figures were confirmed by regional officials. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported two deaths and 56 injuries within the city limits. The head of the surrounding Kyiv region confirmed two additional fatalities and nine injuries in the oblast. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the use of the Oreshnik missile, noting its capability to evade interception due to its high velocity.
The strike followed explicit threats from Moscow to retaliate for Ukrainian drone operations in Starobilsk, located in the occupied Luhansk region. Russian authorities claimed these earlier strikes targeted a college dormitory, killing 18 people and injuring 42. Ukrainian officials have denied targeting civilians, asserting that the operation was directed at military infrastructure.
This marks the third known deployment of the Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile by Russian forces in the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously described the weapon as impossible to intercept, citing its reported speed of more than 10 times the speed of sound. The attack underscores the ongoing cycle of retaliatory strikes between Kyiv and Moscow, with the United Nations continuing to condemn attacks on civilian infrastructure amidst restricted access to the conflict zone.
