Russian military forces launched a nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile at Kyiv and surrounding regions on Sunday, May 24 [1, 2].
The use of the Oreshnik missile represents a significant escalation in the conflict, as the weapon is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and is designed to evade traditional defense systems.
The hypersonic strike was part of a larger coordinated barrage. Russian forces fired 90 missiles [1] and deployed 600 attack drones [1] against the Ukrainian capital and its neighboring areas. The scale of the assault aimed to pressure the Ukrainian government and the civilian population [1, 2].
Local reports indicate the attack resulted in at least four deaths [1]. Approximately 100 people were injured [1] as the missiles and drones struck targets across the region. The barrage caused extensive damage to infrastructure and residential buildings, a recurring pattern in the ongoing military campaign.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the strike by criticizing the Russian leadership. "They are genuinely deranged," Zelenskyy said [1].
The Oreshnik missile is a centerpiece of Russia's advanced weaponry, and its deployment in a large-scale strike on a capital city signals a shift in the intensity of the aerial campaign. This attack followed a pattern of increasing pressure on Kyiv's energy and civilian infrastructure through the use of combined drone and missile swarms [1, 2].
“"They are genuinely deranged."”
The deployment of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile serves as both a tactical strike and a strategic signal. By utilizing a nuclear-capable weapon in a conventional attack, Russia demonstrates the reach and speed of its advanced arsenal, potentially attempting to intimidate Western allies and the Ukrainian government. This shift toward hypersonic weaponry complicates the defensive landscape for Kyiv, as these missiles are significantly harder to intercept than standard cruise or ballistic missiles.
