Kyiv Under Fire: Russia Deploys Hypersonic Missile in Latest Assault
In a major escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv, deploying the hypersonic Oreshnik missile for the third time in the war, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The assault resulted in at least two fatalities and extensive damage across the capital city.
The attack, which struck various parts of Kyiv, including government offices, residential areas, and educational institutions, also saw the Oreshnik missile targeting the city of Bila Tserkva. Ukrainian officials, however, have not clarified the specific target of this strike.
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the deployment of the Oreshnik missile, alongside other missile types, as part of a broader operation aimed at Ukrainian military sites, though it did not disclose their exact locations. The Ministry described the offensive as a response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously condemned a drone attack on a college dormitory in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine, allegedly carried out by Ukrainian forces, and demanded military retaliation. The incident in Starobilsk led to 21 deaths, with 42 others injured, prompting a period of mourning in the Luhansk region.
U.N. Security Council Meeting and International Reactions
During an emergency meeting at the United Nations Security Council, the Ukrainian Ambassador Andrii Melnyk rejected Russian allegations of war crimes, labeling them as “pure propaganda.” Melnyk emphasized that Ukrainian military actions were directed solely at Russian military capabilities.
Accusations have been exchanged between the two nations, with Ukraine and its allies accusing Russia of targeting civilians, a claim Moscow has consistently denied.
Oreshnik Missile: A Game Changer?
The Oreshnik missile, first used against Dnipro in November 2024 and later in Lviv in January, is touted by Russia as being invulnerable to missile defense systems. President Putin described the missile as traveling at Mach 10 and capable of penetrating deep underground bunkers. He suggested that even conventionally armed Oreshniks could deliver destruction comparable to nuclear weapons.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that the latest missile barrage involved 600 drones and 90 other missiles, with Ukrainian defenses managing to neutralize a significant portion of them. Nonetheless, the scale of the attack caused widespread damage and fear among Kyiv’s population.
Civilian Life Disrupted in Kyiv
As air raid sirens blared and smoke filled the air, many Kyiv residents considered leaving the city. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv military administration, noted damage at 40 different sites. Svitlana Onofryichuk, a market worker, lamented, “I am very sorry that I have to say goodbye to Kyiv now, I am not staying there anymore, there is no possibility.”
Witnesses recounted their harrowing experiences, including Yevhen Zosin, who narrowly escaped injury with his dog when his apartment was destroyed. A fire claimed another life in the Shevchenko district when a residential building was hit.
Beyond Kyiv, the conflict extended to Russian territory, with a Ukrainian drone reportedly killing a civilian in the Belgorod region. Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have intercepted 33 Ukrainian drones across several regions, including Crimea and Moscow.
