Russia Launches Massive Missile and Drone Assault on Kyiv, Fires Rare Oreshnik Hypersonic Missile

Russia launched one of the heaviest attacks on Kyiv since the start of the war, firing hundreds of drones and missiles including a rare Oreshnik hypersonic missile leaving several people dead and dozens injured across the Ukrainian capital.

by folarin aluko

Russia launched one of its most intense aerial attacks on Ukraine since the war began more than four years ago, striking Kyiv and surrounding areas with hundreds of drones and missiles during an overnight bombardment that left multiple casualties and widespread destruction.

According to Ukrainian authorities, the hours-long assault killed at least four people and injured more than 80 others, while several residential buildings, schools and civilian infrastructure were severely damaged across the capital region.

The attack also marked one of the rare confirmed uses of Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic missile system a long-range weapon capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the night as one of the most devastating the city has experienced in recent months.
“It was a terrible night for Kyiv,” Klitschko said in a statement shared on Telegram.

Emergency responders were seen battling fires, rescuing trapped residents and clearing debris from destroyed buildings as medical teams treated victims across several districts of the city.
Officials said the bombardment targeted both Kyiv and nearby areas simultaneously, overwhelming air defence systems with waves of missile and drone attacks.

The latest strike underscores the continuing intensity of the war, which began in February 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has since evolved into one of Europe’s deadliest military conflicts in decades.

Particular attention has focused on Russia’s deployment of the Oreshnik missile during the assault.
Military analysts say the Oreshnik is a powerful hypersonic weapon with a range of several thousand kilometres and the capability to carry either conventional or nuclear warheads.

Sunday’s launch reportedly marks only the third known time Russia has used the missile system since the start of the war.
The use of such a weapon has heightened international concern over the growing sophistication and escalation of military operations in the conflict.

Hypersonic missiles travel at extremely high speeds and are difficult for conventional defence systems to intercept, making them among the most advanced weapons currently deployed in modern warfare.

The attack comes amid renewed Russian offensives and intensified fighting across several regions of Ukraine, as both sides continue to battle for territorial and strategic advantage.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including schools, apartment buildings and energy facilities, especially during large-scale missile campaigns.

Russia, however, has consistently maintained that its military operations focus on strategic and military-related targets.

The overnight bombardment triggered fresh air raid alerts across multiple Ukrainian regions and forced thousands of residents to seek shelter in underground stations and bunkers throughout the night.

International leaders and Western allies are expected to closely monitor the latest escalation, particularly following the reported use of a nuclear-capable missile system.

The conflict has already caused massive humanitarian destruction since 2022, displacing millions of people and severely damaging Ukraine’s economy, infrastructure and energy systems.

As the war drags into another year, fears continue to grow over the possibility of broader escalation involving advanced weapons systems and increased geopolitical tensions between Russia and Western nations supporting Ukraine.

Security experts say the latest assault highlights both the ongoing volatility of the conflict and the increasing risks associated with the deployment of high-powered missile technologies in the region.

Despite repeated international calls for peace negotiations and ceasefire agreements, fighting between both countries continues with no immediate resolution in sight.

For residents of Kyiv, Sunday’s attack served as another grim reminder of the human cost and unpredictability of a war that continues to reshape global security and international relations.