Kiev was hit during the night between 23 and 24 May by intense Russian bombing with dozens of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. The attack comes just days after a Ukrainian raid on a school in the occupied Lugansk region for which Russian President Vladimir Putin had promised a military response.
The provisional toll is 4 dead and at least 83 injured, with widespread damage throughout the capital. A school was also hit, another near-miss. Ukrainian President Zelensky denounces Moscow’s use of the Oreshnik missile.
⚡️Update: Massive Russian ballistic missile, drone attack on Kyiv kills 1, injuries 24.
The number of injured victims in Russia’s overnight missile and drone attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region has risen to 24, officials reported.https://t.co/6Er84lz4Zx
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) May 24, 2026
Russia’s attack
In recent hours, Ukrainian President Zelensky had warned that Kiev was observing “signs of preparation for a combined attack against Ukrainian territory, including Kiev”, with the use of various weapon systems, including the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile. The Ukrainian president had invited the population to “behave responsibly” and to reach shelters in case of alarm. The U.S. Embassy also said it had received information about “a potential significant airstrike” that could occur at any time.
Numerous videos are circulating on X, shot from different angles, showing what appear to be multiple warheads of the feared Russian medium-range ballistic missile hitting the ground.
Russia launched another brutal overnight attack on Kyiv with cruise and ballistic missiles alongside swarms of kamikaze drones.
Fires and destruction erupted across more than 40 locations, with at least two people killed and 56 wounded.https://t.co/nLBAMNqGXl
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) May 24, 2026
The use of the powerful weapon was also denounced by Zelensky. “It was a heavy attack – 90 missiles of various types, many of them ballistic missiles – 36 in total. There were 600 drones. Unfortunately, not all of the ballistic missiles were intercepted – the largest number of hits were in Kyiv. Kyiv was the main target of this Russian attack. Putin can’t even pronounce the word ‘hurrah’ clearly anymore – he slurs and splutters – and yet he is still destroying residential buildings with his missiles. He launched three Russian missiles at a water supply plant. He damaged dozens of residential buildings.
Since last night, first responders and all necessary services have been working wherever needed. As of now, at least 83 people have been confirmed injured since midnight. Tragically, there are fatalities. My condolences to the families and loved ones.
It was a heavy attack – 90… pic.twitter.com/KSB4IoxQaE
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 24, 2026
The Oreshnik hypersonic missile
The Oreshnik, a very powerful nuclear-capable hypersonic missile, was placed by the Russians in Belarus, a country allied with Moscow bordering Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine.
Moscow has already used the missile twice since the start of the 2022 invasion: in November 2024 against a military factory and in January 2026 against an aircraft plant in western Ukraine, near NATO borders. In both cases the missiles did not carry nuclear warheads.
Kiev’s appeal to the allies
For Zelensky: “It is important that this does not pass without consequences for Russia. Today, everyone in the world who will not be silent and choose to help Ukraine is a defender of life. It is crucial to continue working to ensure Ukraine’s air defense, especially anti-ballistic capabilities. We are doing our best to achieve peace and protect people – everything possible. It is important that Ukraine is not alone. Decisions are needed – from the United States, Europe and others – to ensure that that old ‘Oreshnik’ in Moscow finally utters the word peace.”
“Putin wanted to show strength, but he only confirmed his weakness. Overnight, Russia conducted one of the largest terrorist attacks on Kiev with around 600 drones, many dozens of ballistic, air-to-ground and cruise missiles, and an unarmed intermediate-range missile,” writes Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha on X. He adds: “To our allies, I want to say this: it is time to double down, not retreat, in supporting Ukraine and increasing pressure on the Russian regime. We demand additional defense capabilities, including protecting our skies; investment in our defense industry; increased pressure on Russia, including entry bans for Russian fighters, full use of frozen assets; strong political decisions regarding Ukraine’s EU membership and other steps. The world has the leverage. It must be used correctly – to show Moscow that such attacks will not bring any results – and force Russia to end this war.”
Putin wanted to show “strength” but only confirmed his weakness.
Overnight, Russia carried out one of the largest terrorist attacks on Kyiv with around 600 drones, many dozens of ballistic, air-ballistic, and cruise missiles, and a dummy IRBM.
Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Kropyvnytskyi,… pic.twitter.com/jSV83n9FBP
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) May 24, 2026
“I express firm condemnation for the heavy Russian attack which has once again hit civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, with the progressive increase in the level of armaments used. Our solidarity goes to the Ukrainian population, who for over four years has suffered the dramatic consequences of this war of aggression. We will continue to work with determination together with European and international partners to promote the path towards a just and lasting peace”, comments Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.