Massive Russian Missile and Drone Attack Strikes Kyiv, Causing Casualties and Damage

In the early hours of May 24, 2026, Russian forces launched a substantial missile and drone attack on Kyiv, leading to at least one fatality and 24 injuries, according to local officials.

The assault targeted multiple districts, including Shevchenkivskyi, Holosiivskyi, Solomianskyi, Desnianskyi, Darnytskyi, Dniprovskyi, and Podil. Residential buildings, schools, and commercial establishments sustained damage. In the Shevchenkivskyi district, missile fragments struck a 24-story residential building, causing debris to fall near a school. The Darnytskyi district saw debris impact the roof of a high-rise building, while a home in the Solomianskyi district was damaged. Additionally, a supermarket in the Desnianskyi district was hit.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported detecting dozens of missiles heading toward the capital around 12:30 a.m. local time. Shortly thereafter, warnings were issued about a potential Russian launch of an Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile targeting Ukraine. However, immediate verification of the missile's launch was not available.

President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously cautioned that Russia was preparing a broader assault across the country, potentially involving the Oreshnik missile. He urged citizens to remain vigilant.

This attack follows previous uses of the Oreshnik missile by Russia, notably in November 2024 in Dnipro and in January 2025 in Lviv Oblast.

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv also issued a warning concerning a potentially significant air attack within a 24-hour period, though it did not specify the types of weapons that might be used.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, explosions were reported in the cities of Cherkasy and Kropyvnytskyi, as well as in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, amid the ongoing attacks.