Russia uses hypersonic Oreshnik missile in mass attack on Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia used its hypersonic Oreshnik missile during a coordinated drone and missile assault on Kyiv on Sunday, the third deployment of the weapon since the war began. The attack, which included 600 drones and 90 missiles, damaged government buildings, residential areas, and schools, killing at least two people. Zelenskyy noted the Oreshnik struck Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region, though the intended target was not immediately clear. Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the use of the Oreshnik, along with other missiles, targeting Ukrainian military command centers, air bases, and industrial facilities as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on civilian areas in Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously ordered military retaliation after a drone attack on a college dormitory in Starobilsk, which Moscow blamed on Ukraine and claimed killed 21 people. Ukraine’s Air Force reported destroying or jamming 549 drones and 55 missiles, with 19 missiles failing to reach targets. Zelenskyy had warned of the Oreshnik’s potential use, citing intelligence from U.S. and Western allies. The missile, traveling at Mach 10, is designed to penetrate underground bunkers and evade missile defense systems, according to Putin. The attack followed a U.N. Security Council emergency meeting, where Ukraine denied Russian accusations of war crimes, calling them propaganda. Kyiv and its allies accuse Russia of repeatedly targeting civilians and infrastructure, while Moscow denies these claims. Air raid sirens and explosions were reported across Kyiv, with smoke visible over the city. The Oreshnik was previously used in strikes on Dnipro in November 2024 and the Lviv region in January.