Russia Launches Major Attack on Ukraine Using Oreshnik Missile
Russia launched a massive missile and drone assault on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, killing four people early Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia employed the advanced hypersonic Oreshnik missile in the attack.
According to AFP on 24 May 2026, the attack followed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threat to retaliate against Ukrainian strikes on occupied territories. Loud explosions were heard across the Ukrainian capital throughout the early hours.
Ukrainian air force reported Russia used 600 drones and 90 missiles. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated two people died in the city and 56 were injured, while the head of the surrounding Kyiv region reported two more fatalities and nine injuries.
Ukrainian air defences intercepted 549 drones and 55 missiles. Zelensky said Russia fired the Oreshnik hypersonic missile, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, during the assault.
“Three Russian missiles struck water supply facilities, a market caught fire, dozens of residential buildings were damaged, several ordinary schools were hit, and he [Putin] launched his ‘Oreshnik’ at Bila Tserkva (in central Ukraine),” Zelensky said on Telegram.
“They are completely insane,” he added.
The Oreshnik missile is reported to travel over ten times the speed of sound. Currently, no technology has been reported capable of stopping it.
Explosions in the capital caused a residential building near the government district to shake, while dozens sought shelter in underground metro stations in the city centre.
Residents were instructed to remain in shelters. Ukrainian authorities and the US embassy warned of a potential large-scale attack in Kyiv after Russia stated it would ‘punish’ those responsible for deadly strikes in eastern Ukraine under Russian control.
Klitschko said damage was recorded across all Kyiv districts. He noted an attack on a school sparked a fire, while another on a business centre trapped people in shelters.
Ukrainian authorities said Russian attacks also injured 11 people in Cherkasy region and seven in Dnipropetrovsk region.