Russia Launches Third Hypersonic Oreshnik Missile Strike on Ukraine, Says Zelenskyy
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched a third hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile strike on Kyiv, killing two people and injuring dozens.
Prasanth Subramani
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that Russia launched a third attack using its powerful hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile on Sunday during a massive assault on Ukraine.
According to reports, at least two people were killed and 83 others were injured in the attack.
The latest strike comes amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has continued for four years since the conflict began in 2022.
Previously, Russia had reportedly used the Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile against Ukraine’s Dnipro city in November 2024 and later against Lviv in western Ukraine in January 2026.
Now, for the third time, Russia has allegedly deployed the same missile system during attacks targeting the Ukrainian capital region.
In a statement shared on social media, President Zelenskyy said Russia used the nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile to strike Bila Tserkva city in the Kyiv region.
Ukraine also claimed that Russia launched more than 600 drones and over 90 different types of missiles during the large-scale assault.
The attacks reportedly caused severe damage to government buildings, residential areas, and schools across parts of the Kyiv region.
Ukraine’s Air Force stated that it successfully intercepted and destroyed 549 Russian drones and 55 missiles during the operation.
What is the Oreshnik Missile?
The Oreshnik missile is considered one of Russia’s most advanced hypersonic weapons systems.
According to reports, the missile can travel at speeds nearly ten times faster than the speed of sound and possesses the capability to destroy underground structures equivalent to four-story buildings.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier claimed that the missile moves “like a meteor” and is capable of penetrating any modern missile defense system in the world.
Russia’s Defense Ministry later confirmed the use of the missile in Sunday’s attack and stated that the operation was carried out in retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory.
