Kyiv under attack by dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones (photo)
A Kyiv resident near the Kvadrat shopping center, which burned down after a Russian strike, May 24, 2026
Reuters / Scanpix / LETA
The armed conflict and intense military operations on Ukrainian soil are experiencing one of the most horrific and critical phases in their history. Especially, on the night of May 24, official Kyiv and the surrounding regional areas were subjected to an unprecedented, massive, and devastating air attack by the Russian armed forces. During the night strikes, in addition to dozens of modern missiles (including hard-to-intercept ballistic projectiles) and hundreds of attack drones (UAVs), Russia’s latest Oreshnik missile system was also used. This is the third time this powerful weapon has been officially used against Ukrainian territory since the start of the war.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
According to official reports provided by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russian army launched 90 missiles of various types and 600 attack drones into the air during this massive assault. Despite active resistance from Ukraine's air defense systems, 16 missiles and 51 drones were recorded hitting (exploding) in 54 separate locations across the country. The primary strategic and political target was the capital city itself.
Destruction in the capital: Markets and museums in flames
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko informed the media that as a result of the night tragedy, two civilians were killed in the capital, and 69 people were injured to varying degrees. It is reported that there are innocent infants and children among the victims. 36 of the injured were immediately hospitalized, while others received emergency medical assistance at the scene.
Massive destruction was recorded in almost all districts of Ukraine's capital. The most severe and tragic scene was observed in the Shevchenkivskyi district. In particular, the popular Kvadrat shopping center near the Lukyanivska metro station and the adjacent Lukyanivskyi market were almost reduced to ashes by a powerful fire. These commercial facilities are located near the Artyom military plant, which has been targeted by Russian airstrikes several times before.
Furthermore, the shockwave from the explosions severely damaged several historical museums and cultural centers, including the National Art Museum of Ukraine, the National Chernobyl Museum, and the famous Ukrainian House complex. President Volodymyr Zelensky, accompanied by Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, personally visited the damaged Chernobyl Museum building to assess the situation.
The explosions also affected the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in the city center, shattering its windows. Official Kyiv stated that it would not be demoralized:
“Looking at the broken windows of our ministry this morning, I can say on behalf of our entire diplomatic corps with full confidence: Russian terrorists will never force us to stop or retreat,” said Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.
Additionally, the main editorial office of the well-known UNIAN news agency, which operates in the capital, was also among the buildings damaged in the attack.
Drama in the Kyiv region: Oreshnik fired at Bila Tserkva
The alarming air attack covered not only the capital but the entire Kyiv region (oblast). According to the head of the regional military administration, Mykola Kalashnyk, two more civilians lost their lives in the Bucha and Obukhiv districts, and nine people were injured.
Yuriy Ignat, a spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, officially confirmed that Russia’s mysterious Oreshnik missile was used across the region. The strike hit the area of Bila Tserkva, located 80 kilometers south of Kyiv. Ignat noted that this hypersonic missile was launched from the Kapustin Yar military test site in Russia's Astrakhan region. Local authorities reported that a large garage cooperative and private enterprise buildings were destroyed in the Bila Tserkva district.
Statement by the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Kremlin
Shortly after, the Russian Ministry of Defense officially admitted to striking Ukrainian territory with an Oreshnik missile, claiming that only “military command facilities and infrastructure” were targeted. It was noted that during the operation, the Russian army employed state-of-the-art missile complexes such as Iskander, Kinzhal, and Zircon. The Russian side called this massive attack “a legitimate response to terrorist acts committed by Ukraine against civilian objects in Russian internal territories” .
It is known that two days ago, Vladimir Putin labeled the Ukrainian army’s strike on a pedagogical college in Starobilsk, Luhansk region, as a “terrorist attack” and ordered his military to develop a package of harsh retaliatory measures. The General Staff of Ukraine called the reports of the college attack a fake manipulation, stating that in reality, the headquarters of Russia’s secret Rubikon drone unit had been destroyed there.
Zelensky: “He is truly inadequate”
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky published another statement on his official Telegram channel, sharply criticizing the Kremlin leadership regarding this brutal night attack:
“Putin can no longer even pronounce simple words correctly — he only knows how to make noise — and he continues to target ordinary residential buildings with his missiles. Three expensive Russian missiles were fired at a simple water supply facility, a city market was burned down, dozens of residential buildings and several ordinary schools were destroyed. And he used a massive ‘Oreshnik’ against the city of Bila Tserkva. He has truly become completely inadequate,” concluded the President of Ukraine.
The situation in the region is extremely precarious and is escalating by the hour.
Do you think the relentless use of highly dangerous and modern missiles like ‘Oreshnik’ by Russia will lead the war into an even more terrifying phase?
