Russia launched a large-scale ballistic missile and drone attack on Kyiv.

Russia launched a large-scale, coordinated missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on the night of May 24, hitting several residential buildings and injuring at least three people, according to local officials.

Air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine after the Ukrainian Air Force announced that dozens of missiles were heading towards Kyiv at around 00:30, according to the Kyiv Independent news agency.

People take shelter in a subway station in Kyiv, Ukraine, during a Russian missile and drone attack on May 24, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/Alina Smutko)

A few minutes later, the Ukrainian Air Force issued a further warning that Russia might launch Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missiles at Ukraine at 00:55. However, the Kyiv Independent reported that it was not yet possible to verify whether this type of weapon was actually used in the attack.

At least three people were injured and several residential buildings were damaged in various areas of Kyiv, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram. He also said that debris from the attack caused a fire on the grounds of a school in the city center.

Additionally, Russian missiles and drones struck a supermarket, a dormitory, a garage, and several warehouses in various residential areas of Kyiv.

The latest attack came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia was preparing a larger-scale attack across Ukraine, including the possibility of using Oreshnik medium-range missiles, citing intelligence from Ukraine, the US, and Europe.

"We are observing signs of preparations for a coordinated attack on Ukrainian territory, including Kyiv, with various types of weapons. Medium-range weapons may be used," Zelensky said, while urging the public to be vigilant.

The US embassy in Kyiv also issued a similar warning about the “possibility of a serious airstrike” occurring within 24 hours, although it did not specify the type of weapons that might be used.

Russia first used Oreshnik missiles against Ukraine in November 2024 during an attack on the city of Dnipro. The most recent use of Oreshnik missiles was in an attack on the western Ukrainian province of Lviv on January 9.

Russian President Vladimir Putin once stated that this type of missile is virtually impossible to intercept thanks to its speed, which is said to exceed 10 times the speed of sound.

A section of Russia's Oreshnik hypersonic missile system at the scene of an attack in Lviv province, Ukraine, January 9, 2026. (Photo: Ukrainian Security Service/Reuters)

The attack came after President Putin pledged a military response following a Ukrainian drone strike on Starobilsk in the Russian-controlled Lugansk region, which occurred overnight from Thursday to Friday.

Kyiv denies targeting civilians and says it attacked a Russian drone control unit based in the Starobilsk region.

Diem Chau (Source: Reuters, Kyiv Independent)

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