In the early hours of May 24, Russia launched a massive strike on Kyiv and the surrounding region, described by Ukrainian officials as one of the largest attacks on the capital since the start of the full-scale war.

Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russian forces fired 600 drones and 90 missiles, including the intermediate-range ballistic missile 'Oreshnik'. The strikes hit 54 areas, with 16 missiles and 51 attack drones impacting targets.

The 'Oreshnik' missile struck the city of Bila Tserkva in Kyiv region. This marks the third use of this missile in the war, following strikes on Dnipro on November 21, 2024, and on Lviv region on January 9, 2026.

The attack killed at least two people in Kyiv and wounded 87. Approximately 300 objects were damaged, including dozens of residential buildings and cultural sites. The heaviest destruction occurred in the historic Lukyanivka district near the city center. Among the damaged structures are the National Museum 'Chernobyl', the National Art Museum of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, and other architectural landmarks.

Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed the strike, stating that 'Oreshnik', 'Iskander', 'Kinjal', and 'Zircon' missiles, along with attack drones, targeted 'Ukrainian military command facilities, airbases, and defense industry enterprises'. The ministry described the attack as a response to 'Ukraine's terrorist attacks on civilian objects in Russian territory'.

Days earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of a 'terrorist strike' on a dormitory of the Starobilsk Pedagogical College in the Russian-controlled part of Luhansk region. According to Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry, the strike on the college on the night of May 22 killed 21 people and injured 63.

Ukraine's General Staff denied hitting civilian infrastructure, claiming that the attack targeted military objectives near Starobilsk, including an oil refinery, ammunition depots, and the headquarters of the 'Rubikon' unit.

Source: www.gazeta.uz