Russia Launches Hypersonic Missile Attack on Kyiv – Casualties Rise

Kuala Lumpur – Russia has once again launched a major assault on Kyiv using the advanced Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile, marking the third time this powerful weapon has been deployed in the Ukraine conflict.

The attack, which occurred on 24 May 2026, killed at least 4 people and injured nearly 100 others. It is considered one of the most severe attacks on the Ukrainian capital in recent months.

Details of the Attack:

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia deployed more than 600 drones and 90 missiles of various types, including 36 ballistic missiles. Kyiv was the primary target.

Affected targets included:

• Water supply facilities
• A public market that caught fire
• Residential buildings
• Several schools
• The National Art Museum of Ukraine
• The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs building (damaged for the first time since World War II)
• Government headquarters

Zelenskyy condemned the strikes as “deranged” and accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilian areas.

The Oreshnik Missile

The Oreshnik is a hypersonic ballistic missile capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads. Russia claims the missile is extremely difficult to intercept due to its speed of up to 10 times the speed of sound. This is the third time Russia has used the weapon, following previous strikes in Dnipro (November 2024) and the Lviv region (January 2026).

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed the attack was retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on civilian infrastructure in Russian territory.

International Reaction

Several world leaders have strongly condemned the attack:

• French President Emmanuel Macron called it a “dead end” for Russia’s war.
• EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described it as “an act of terror” and a “nuclear threat”.
• Germany and the United Kingdom also expressed strong disapproval.

The assault comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed revenge for Ukrainian attacks in the Luhansk region.

This article is compiled based on the latest reports from The Guardian dated 24 May 2026.