Russia fires Oreshnik missile at Ukraine

Russia’s Defence Ministry said on May 24 that it used an Oreshnik ballistic missile in an overnight attack on Ukraine, confirming the latest use of a weapon Moscow says can carry nuclear or conventional warheads. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the missile struck Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region during a broader barrage that also hit Kyiv and other areas. Ukrainian officials said the assault involved about 90 missiles and 600 drones, with deaths and dozens of injuries reported after overnight strikes. Russia said it targeted military sites; Ukrainian officials reported damage to residential buildings, schools, a market and other civilian locations. ### Why did this strike stand out from the rest of the barrage? Russia’s acknowledgement of the Oreshnik use made the attack stand out because the missile has been presented by Moscow as a newer intermediate-range system with nuclear capability. Bloomberg reported that this was the third time Russia had used the Oreshnik against Ukraine, after earlier launches in November and January. CNBC and other outlets similarly described the missile as nuclear-capable and said it has a range of several thousand kilometers. (yahoo.com) Volodymyr Zelensky said after the attack that Vladimir Putin had “launched his Oreshnik against Bila Tserkva,” linking the missile strike to the wider overnight assault. Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the use of the missile in a Telegram statement cited by multiple outlets, though it did not publicly specify Bila Tserkva as the target. (bloomberg.com) ### Where did Ukraine say the missile landed? Bila Tserkva, a city in Kyiv region south of the capital, was identified by Zelensky as the place hit by the Oreshnik. The Kyiv Independent, NBC and other reports said Zelensky named Bila Tserkva in a Telegram post after the attack. Ukrainian Air Force reporting cited by AeroTime and Kyiv Post also said an Oreshnik, described there as an RS-26 Rubezh variant, was launched toward the Bila Tserkva area from Russia’s Kapustin Yar range in Astrakhan region. (kyivindependent.com) The Russian military said the broader attack targeted Ukrainian military command facilities, air bases and defense-industrial sites. Ukrainian accounts said the overnight barrage damaged civilian areas as well, including buildings in Kyiv and facilities in other regions. ### Was this tied to Putin’s warning of retaliation? (kyivindependent.com) Saturday warnings from Zelensky and ABC News pointed to intelligence indicating Russia could be preparing an Oreshnik strike. On May 23, Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence had received information, including from U.S. and European partners, about possible preparations for such a launch. (timesofisrael.com) By Sunday, several reports connected the strike to Putin’s earlier threat to respond to Ukrainian attacks, including a school strike in Russian-occupied territory. Reuters copy carried by Yahoo said Russia described the Oreshnik launch as a response to Ukrainian actions, while other reports said the barrage followed Putin’s public threats of retaliation. (abcnews.com) ### How large was the overall attack? Ukraine’s air force said the overnight assault involved roughly 600 drones and 90 missiles, according to AFP-based and Bloomberg reporting. Zelensky and Ukrainian officials said multiple waves of explosions were heard in Kyiv, and rescue crews were deployed to damaged sites across the capital and surrounding region. (yahoo.com) Casualty figures varied across early reports as emergency work continued. News18 said at least four people were killed and dozens injured, while NBC-linked coverage cited at least 83 wounded. Those numbers remained preliminary on May 24. ### What did European officials say? (themoscowtimes.com) Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, condemned the Oreshnik use as reckless, according to Kyiv Post and the source briefings provided for this story. Her criticism focused on the risks attached to deploying a missile that Moscow itself has framed in nuclear terms. European and Ukrainian officials are expected to keep updating casualty counts and damage assessments as rescue work continues. (news18.com) Russia’s Defence Ministry and Ukraine’s military are also likely to provide further statements on the targets, interceptions and effects of the May 24 strike. (yahoo.com) (kyivpost.com)