In the early hours of Sunday, Russia launched a significant missile and drone attack on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Explosions shook buildings for hours and started numerous fires throughout the city.
The assault caused damage to two subway entrances. The subway system serves as an underground refuge for thousands during air raids. One of the strikes occurred near Kyiv’s central Independence Square, often called the Maidan. This square symbolizes Ukraine’s resistance to Russian aggression.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine had previously cautioned about a potential launch of the Oreshnik missile by Russia. The Oreshnik is an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads. This missile was previously used on Ukraine twice—in 2024 and this past January. During those instances, missiles carried dummy devices instead of explosives.
Those attacks aimed to intimidate Ukraine and its Western allies rather than cause actual damage. The Oreshnik is often used as a tool for nuclear saber-rattling, serving more as a political statement than an effective weapon.
It was uncertain on Sunday morning if the Oreshnik missile had been launched this time. The missile releases multiple warheads during flight, descending quickly on steep paths that American Patriot air defense systems struggle to intercept. There were reports from Bila Tserkva, a town about 50 miles south of Kyiv, suggesting the fast-moving warheads typical of the Oreshnik had landed there.
Kyiv streets were left strewn with debris on Sunday following the overnight missile and drone strike.