Russia launched one of the biggest aerial assaults on Kyiv since the start of the war, firing hundreds of drones and missiles, including an Oreshnik hypersonic missile, in an overnight barrage that killed at least four people and injured more than 80, Ukrainian officials said on Sunday.
The hours-long attack damaged residential buildings, schools and infrastructure facilities across Kyiv and surrounding regions, while residents spent the night sheltering in underground metro stations as explosions echoed across the capital.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 90 missiles and 600 drones during the assault, making it one of the largest combined attacks on the Ukrainian capital in recent months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said water-supply infrastructure was among the targets and urged stronger international action against Moscow.
“It’s important that this does not remain without consequences for Russia,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram. “Decisions are needed — from the United States, from Europe and others.”
The strike marked only the third reported use of Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic missile since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Zelenskyy said the missile struck Bila Tserkva, a city about 64 km south of Kyiv.
The Oreshnik missile is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and travels at more than 10 times the speed of sound, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described it as a “terrible night” for the capital as firefighters battled multiple blazes and rescue workers cleared debris from damaged buildings.
Officials said windows were shattered at Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry building, while offices, warehouses and a metro station entrance were also damaged. Images released by Ukrainian authorities showed part of a residential building collapsed after the strikes.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the attacks targeted Ukrainian military command centres, air bases and defence industry facilities using Oreshnik, Iskander, Kinzhal and Zircon missiles.
In addition to fatalities in Kyiv, two people were killed in the wider Kyiv region, officials said. Eleven others were injured in the central city of Cherkasy after a drone struck an apartment building.
