The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 90 missiles, including 36 ballistic missiles, and 600 drones overnight, marking the largest missile attack on Ukraine in 2026, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War.According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian forces launched one Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, two Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, three Zircon hypersonic missiles, 30 Iskander-M ballistic missiles or S-300 air defense missiles, and 54 Kh-101, Iskander-K, or Kalibr cruise missiles.In addition, 600 Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other drones were launched. Ukrainian air defenses reportedly shot down 55 missiles and 549 drones. It was reported that 16 missiles and 51 drones struck 54 locations, while debris fell at 23 sites. The Air Force added that another 19 missiles likely failed to reach their targets.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the Russian strikes were primarily aimed at Kyiv, with three missiles hitting a water supply facility, one Oreshnik missile falling on Bila Tserkva, and the remaining strikes targeting civilian and residential infrastructure. This marked the first time Russia had used the Oreshnik against Kyiv, after previously targeting Dnipro in November 2024 and Lviv earlier in 2026.Did the Oreshnik hit Russian troops in Donetsk?According to the monitoring channel Jeradar, Russia launched two Oreshnik missiles, but the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed only one strike on Ukrainian territory.The same channel’s analysis suggested that the second missile may have hit Russian-controlled territory in the Avdiivka or Yasynuvata areas on the outskirts of Donetsk. Jeradar did not rule out the possibility that Russian forces accidentally struck their own troops there.Footage of the Oreshnik strike on Kyiv reportedly showed six groups of multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), each carrying six kinetic projectiles. The strike pattern appeared different from the one previously seen in Lviv. It is possible that Russian forces carried out the attack to test and refine their nuclear weapons delivery systems, while one source suggested that kinetic-energy projectiles were used instead of conventional explosives.❗️During the massive attack on the night of May 24, the 🇷🇺Russians used two “Oreshnik” intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBM), according to monitor.The warheads of the first missile separated and fell directly over the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk Oblast,… pic.twitter.com/4fhgdztYJj— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) May 25, 2026Ukrainian officials reported that at least four civilians were killed and at least 100 wounded in the attacks. In Kyiv alone, at least two people were killed and 81 injured. Strikes were also reported in the Poltava, Kirovohrad, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Zhytomyr, and Cherkasy regions, as well as in Kropyvnytskyi.Government buildings hit in KyivRussian strikes damaged government buildings and cultural sites in Kyiv, fulfilling Kremlin threats made ahead of the May 9 Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. Ukrainian officials confirmed damage to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet of Ministers building, and the National Art Museum. The Chernobyl Museum and Lukianivka Market were reportedly destroyed. The Kremlin had previously threatened to target “decision-making centers” in Kyiv, including with the Oreshnik missile, if Ukrainian forces attacked the Victory Day parade — which ultimately did not occur.According to the Institute for the Study of War, the Oreshnik-related threats in the days before the parade likely served to conceal Russia’s weakness and inability to defend its airspace from deep Ukrainian strikes. The attack on Kyiv is described as part of an effort by Vladimir Putin to erase the embarrassment surrounding the Victory Day parade and project strength after the widely criticized event.“Expensive and useless attack”Russian nationalist military bloggers reportedly dismissed the strikes as largely symbolic, pointing to failures on the battlefield. They sharply criticized the May 24 attacks as expensive but militarily ineffective, arguing that the Oreshnik strike on Bila Tserkva lacked a clearly significant military target. The strikes were described as a waste of resources at a time when Russian frontline forces are under-equipped and unable to advance.One blogger claimed that the Russian military command is wrongly prioritizing costly missile strikes despite shortages of reconnaissance and support drones at the front, allowing Ukraine to gain advantages and continue advancing. Another stated that Ukrainian forces are successfully targeting Russian logistical assets in occupied Ukraine and that strikes on Kyiv will not stop those operations.Russian forces continue to post poor battlefield results and have failed to achieve operationally significant gains during their spring-summer offensive, while Ukrainian forces continue counterattacks and strikes on Russian rear-area targets.
25.5.2026.
18:03
Putin humiliated, so this is the response; Outrage in Russia: "Expensive and useless" VIDEO
Russia launched a devastating missile and drone attack on Kyiv on Sunday night, using an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).
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