Russia launches Oreshnik missile barrage

Russia hit Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions overnight on May 24 with one of the largest aerial attacks of the war, and both Moscow and Kyiv said an Oreshnik missile was part of the barrage. Ukrainian officials said at least four people were killed and dozens were injured across several regions, while fires and damage were reported in the capital and elsewhere. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strike showed Russia was escalating pressure and called for “consequences.” Russia’s Defence Ministry said the attack was retaliation for what it described as Ukrainian strikes on civilian facilities inside Russian territory. ### Where did the attack hit? Kyiv took some of the heaviest damage in the overnight assault, with Ukrainian officials reporting explosions, fires and injuries across the city and surrounding region. Reuters described the bombardment as one of the heaviest on Kyiv since the start of the war, while other reports said strikes also hit Kharkiv, Cherkasy and Dnipropetrovsk regions. (msn.com) At least four people were killed and dozens injured across Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials cited by multiple outlets. In Kyiv, emergency crews were deployed to damaged residential and commercial sites, and Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said its building sustained minor damage from nearby blasts. ### What is the Oreshnik missile, and why did this strike stand out? The Oreshnik is described in current reporting as an advanced ballistic or hypersonic-capable missile that Russia says can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads. (msn.com) The BBC and other outlets said it travels at more than 10 times the speed of sound, making it notable not just for destructive power but for the message attached to its use. (time.com) Zelensky said the missile struck Bila Tserkva in Kyiv region, according to reports citing his Telegram statement. CNBC, citing Ukrainian accounts, said this was the third known use of an Oreshnik in the war. ### What did Moscow say it was doing? Russia’s Defence Ministry said the barrage was retaliation for what it called Ukrainian attacks on civilian facilities inside Russian territory. That framing followed recent Ukrainian long-range strikes inside Russia, including attacks highlighted by Zelensky in earlier public statements. (time.com) (indianexpress.com) The Russian side publicly confirmed the use of the Oreshnik system, which made the strike unusual because Moscow has tended to spotlight such weapons for both military and political effect. Bloomberg and Reuters each reported Russian acknowledgment that the missile was used in the barrage. ### What did Zelensky ask for after the barrage? (indianexpress.com) Zelensky said there must be “consequences” for Russia after the attack, describing the bombardment as a test of whether Ukraine’s partners would respond with sustained support. Time reported that he cast the strike as part of a broader effort by Moscow to pressure Ukraine and its backers. The Ukrainian president also used Telegram to give operational details, including the reported Oreshnik strike on Bila Tserkva. (bloomberg.com) His response tied the immediate civilian toll to Kyiv’s longer-running appeal for more air defenses and continued Western military backing. ### What comes next after this strike? May 25 statements from Ukrainian and international media focused on damage assessments, casualty updates and confirmation of the weapons used in the assault. (time.com) Russian and Ukrainian officials are likely to keep issuing revised figures as rescue work and site inspections continue. Telegram posts from Zelensky and statements from Russia’s Defence Ministry remain the main official channels for the next round of claims about targets, casualties and any further retaliatory strikes. (indianexpress.com 1) (indianexpress.com 2) (msn.com)