Russia's massive strike on Kyiv includes Oreshnik and Zircon missiles
Photo: Ukraine’s air defense shot down 55 missiles and 549 enemy drones (Getty Images)
In the night of May 24, Russia carried out a massive combined strike on Ukraine using attack drones and missiles launched from air, sea, and land platforms. The main direction of the attack was Kyiv, according to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
A total of 690 airborne attack assets were detected by the Air Force’s radar units — 90 missiles and 600 drones of various types:
- 1 medium-range ballistic missile (launch area — Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan region, Russia);
- 2 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles (launch area — Lipetsk region, Russia);
- 3 3M22 Zircon anti-ship missiles (launch areas — temporarily occupied Crimea, Kursk region, Russia);
- 30 Iskander-M / S-400 ballistic missiles (launch areas — Bryansk, Kursk, temporarily occupied Crimea);
- 54 Kh-101 / Iskander-K / Kalibr cruise missiles (launch areas — Vologda region, Kursk region, Russia, Black Sea waters);
- 600 attack drones of the Shahed type, Gerbera, Italmas, Banderol loitering munitions, and Parody decoy drones (launched from Bryansk, Kursk, Oryol, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, Gvardeyskoye and Chauda in temporarily occupied Crimea).
As of 09:30, according to preliminary data, Ukraine's air defense shot down or suppressed 604 targets — 55 missiles and 549 drones of various types.
This includes:
- 11 Iskander-M / S-400 ballistic missiles;
- 44 Kh-101 / Iskander-K / Kalibr cruise missiles;
- 549 enemy drones of various types.
In addition, 19 enemy missiles likely failed to reach their targets. Information is being clarified, and possible crash sites are being identified.
According to preliminary information as of 09:30, impacts were recorded from 16 missiles and 51 attack drones across 54 locations, as well as debris from downed drones at 23 locations.
Massive strike on Kyiv and region
Earlier, the Ukrainian Air Force announced the threat of a medium-range ballistic missile Oreshnik.
Throughout the night, Russia attacked Kyiv and the Kyiv region with ballistic missiles and attack drones.
Debris fell in several districts of the capital, causing destruction, injuries, and deaths.
There are also reports of casualties and damage in the Kyiv region.
Ahead of the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that according to American and European partners, Russia was preparing to strike Ukraine with the “Oreshnik” ballistic missile. He urged Ukrainians to respond to air raid alerts and use shelters.
Head of the Communications Department of the Ukrainian Air Force Yurii Ihnat confirmed to RBC-Ukraine that Russian forces used an RS-26 “Rubezh” (“Oreshnik”) medium-range ballistic missile in the attack on the Kyiv region.
