Russian forces launched a heavy missile and drone strike on Kiev and the surrounding region during the night of May 24, 2026.
The attack represents a significant escalation in the conflict due to the deployment of the Oreshnik ballistic missile, a weapon with destructive capabilities that challenge existing air defense systems.
At least four people died [1], and approximately 60 people were injured [1] in the strikes. The assault involved 90 missiles [1] and more than 700 drones [1]. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the use of the specific ballistic weapon, saying, "Putin ha usato il missile Oreshnik" [2].
Russia said the operation was retaliation for a Ukrainian raid on a student dormitory in Starobilsk [3]. The scale of the strike targeted the capital and its wider region, causing extensive civilian casualties.
Vladimir Putin described the power of the Oreshnik missile, saying it can cause as much damage as a nuclear attack [4]. This assessment highlights the high-yield impact of the weapon's warhead without the radioactive fallout of a traditional nuclear strike.
Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the EU, condemned the operation. She said the strike was a "terrorist act that aims to kill as many civilians as possible" [4].
Reports on the casualty count varied across agencies, with some outlets reporting at least one death while others cited four [1, 5]. The number of injured was described by some sources as dozens, while others specified 60 [1, 5].
“"Putin ha usato il missile Oreshnik"”
The use of the Oreshnik missile in a populated area like Kiev signals a shift in Russian tactical aggression. By deploying a weapon that mimics the destructive scale of a nuclear strike, Moscow is exerting psychological pressure on the Ukrainian government and its Western allies. This development suggests a willingness to utilize high-impact ballistic technology to retaliate for specific Ukrainian incursions, potentially lowering the threshold for the use of strategic weaponry in the conflict.
