Russia fires hypersonic missile in massive attack on Kyiv

Russia launched one of its largest attacks on the Kyiv since the war began, firing hundreds of drones and missiles, including a hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile that Ukrainian officials said struck near Bila Tserkva.

According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia launched 600 drones and 90 missiles overnight, killing at least four people and injuring 87, including three children.

The United States classifies the Oreshnik as an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads and it is only the third reported use of the weapon.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, saying: “They’re really out of their minds. It’s vital that this doesn’t go unpunished for Russia.”

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the missile carried a dummy warhead, while Russia claimed the strikes were retaliation for a deadly Ukrainian drone attack in occupied Luhansk.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reportedly told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Moscow was beginning “systematic strikes” on military sites in Kyiv.

European leaders condemned the attack, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas calling the missile launch “reckless nuclear-brinkmanship”.