Russia’s hypersonic missile strike on Ukraine kills at least 2 people, wounds dozen more, Kyiv says
by Staff and wire reports · The Washington TimesRussia used a hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missiles Sunday during a mass drone and missile attack on Kyiv that killed at least two people and injured dozens more, Ukrainian officials said.
Sunday’s attack marked the third time Moscow has used the powerful weapon, which is nuclear capable, against Ukraine in the four-year war, and the latest barrage comes as Moscow has suffered weeks of daring Ukrainian drone attacks deep inside Russian borders and as Russia’s invading forces have suffered setbacks on the front lines.
The Kremlin insisted that the intense aerial assault targeted only Ukrainian military facilities and was in response to “terrorist attacks by the Ukrainian military against civilian facilities.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attacks destroyed homes, schools and one of the oldest food markets in Kyiv.
“The Russian attack effectively destroyed the Chernobyl Museum, damaged the National Art Museum, and the building that housed the German ARD [broadcasting] office,” Mr. Zelenskyy said Sunday on his Telegram page. “It is known that a total of 69 people were injured in the capital. Unfortunately, two people died from this senseless Russian attack.
Mr. Zelenskyy said the Kremlin is waging war not only against the government in Kyiv but also against Ukraine’s memory and history.
“It is important that Russia understands that they will be held accountable for all these crimes,” he said.
The Kremlin said its missiles and drones struck only legitimate targets, including military command centers, air bases, and factories in Ukraine involved in defense production.
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“No strikes were planned or carried out against civilian infrastructure targets in Ukraine,” Russian defense ministry officials said in a statement.
However, at least one Russian missile struck the residence of Albania’s ambassador to Ukraine, officials said. “This is unacceptable. Targeting or endangering civilian areas and diplomatic personnel represents a grave escalation and another stark reminder of the human cost of Russia’s continued aggression,” Albanian Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said in a statement.
Mr. Hoxha accused Moscow of “relentlessly” targeting energy infrastructure, schools, hospitals and homes across Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion more than four years ago.
“Yet, it has failed to break the courage, determination, resilience and strength of the Ukrainian people,” he said.
The attack included 600 strike drones and 90 air, sea and ground-launched missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Ukrainian air defenses destroyed and jammed 549 drones and 55 missiles. Around 19 missiles failed to reach targets, the Air Force said.
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Russia’s Defense Ministry on Sunday confirmed the use of the hypersonic weapon, as well as other missile types, to strike Ukrainian “military command and control facilities,” air bases and military industrial enterprises. The ministry added the attack was retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on “civilian facilities on Russian territory,” without giving detail.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday denounced a drone strike on a college dormitory in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine, which Moscow blamed on Kyiv. He said there were no military or law enforcement facilities near the college. Putin said he ordered the Russian military to retaliate.
The death toll from that strike had risen to 21, Russian authorities said late Saturday.
Kyiv’s European allies, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz, condemned the Russian strikes and use of the Oreshnik in statements published on Sunday. Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, said top European diplomats will meet within days to “discuss how to dial up the international pressure on Russia.”
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Mr. Zelenskyy said not all the ballistic missiles were intercepted and that most of the strikes hit Kyiv, the primary target of the attack.
The apparent interception failures underscored Ukraine’s chronic shortage of air defense missiles capable of downing ballistic missiles. Kyiv relies heavily on U.S. Patriot air defense systems to intercept such weapons, but interceptors remain in short supply and are among Ukraine’s most urgent requests to its Western partners.
Developing a domestically produced alternative has become a top priority for Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, though doing so will require time and funding.