Berlin, May 24 (EFE).- At least four people were killed and nearly 100 injured in a massive Russian bombardment across Ukraine involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, including the hypersonic Oreshnik system, Ukrainian authorities said on Sunday, as Kyiv renewed calls for stronger Western air defense support and increased pressure on Moscow.
Zelenskyy said on Telegram after visiting the attacked sites in Kiev that «nearly 100 people have been injured across the country and, regrettably, four others have died.»
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Kyiv was the “primary target” of the overnight assault, in which Russia deployed 690 aerial attack systems, including drones and various types of missiles.
Ukrainian military officials initially reported that Russia had launched 54 cruise missiles and more than 30 ballistic missiles. They later confirmed that the attack also involved the hypersonic Oreshnik missile system.
Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, said the Oreshnik, which Moscow claims can travel at speeds of between 2.5 and 3 kilometers per second, was among the weapons used in the strike.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack and accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of continuing to “strike residential buildings with his missiles.”
According to Zelenskyy, the bombardment damaged “dozens of residential buildings and several schools.”
He added that the Chernobyl Museum was “virtually destroyed,” while other cultural and public buildings, including the National Art Museum, also sustained damage.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry suffered minor damage as well, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
Kyiv authorities reported that two people were killed and 69 others injured in the attack.
Moscow calls strike retaliation for “terrorist attacks”
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed on Sunday that it had used multiple missile systems, including the hypersonic Oreshnik, in what it described as strikes against military targets in Ukraine.
According to the ministry, the large-scale assault was carried out “in response to Ukraine’s terrorist attacks against civilian targets in Russia.”
Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said the strikes were retaliation for a recent attack on a student dormitory in the Russian-occupied region of Luhansk that reportedly killed 21 people and injured more than 40.
Moscow accuses Kyiv of carrying out that attack, although Ukraine has denied responsibility.
Kyiv renews calls for Western support
The Oreshnik missile has reportedly been used previously in the war. According to The Kyiv Independent, Russian forces first deployed the system in November 2024 during an attack on the eastern city of Dnipro and later used it in a strike on the western Lviv region in January this year.
In response to the latest assault, Sybiha urged Ukraine’s allies to intensify military and political support.
“Now is the time to move forward, not retreat, in supporting Ukraine and increasing pressure on the Russian regime,” he said.
He called for additional air defense systems, greater investment in Ukraine’s defense industry, tougher sanctions on Russia, and “strong political decisions” regarding Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.
Although no major new aid packages were announced on Sunday, Ukraine received expressions of solidarity from several Western leaders.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned what he described as an “unscrupulous escalation.”
“Once again, the Oreshnik missile system was used. The federal government strongly condemns this escalation,” Merz said.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares also expressed support for Ukraine.
Kaja Kallas condemned Russia’s “abominable terrorist acts” in response to the bombardment. EFE
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