Russia hits Kyiv with hypersonic ballistic missile in ‘deranged’ attack

Key Points:

• Russia used its hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile for the third time in Ukraine, targeting the city of Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region during a massive attack that killed at least four people and injured dozens.
• The attack involved 600 drones and 90 missiles, including 36 ballistic missiles, with Kyiv being the primary target, causing widespread damage to infrastructure, residential buildings, schools, and cultural institutions such as Ukraine’s National Art Museum.
• Russian officials claimed the strikes targeted Ukrainian military facilities in retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian sites, while Ukrainian leaders condemned the assault as a terror attack on civilians and cultural heritage.
• International reactions included condemnation from French President Emmanuel Macron and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who described the missile use as reckless nuclear brinkmanship and vowed increased pressure on Russia.
• Despite Russian claims that the Oreshnik missile is nearly impossible to intercept, Ukraine lacks air defense systems capable of stopping it, raising concerns over the missile's destructive potential in the ongoing conflict.