Night Strike on Kyiv: Russia Deploys Hypersonic Missile

Early on Sunday, Kyiv was struck by missiles and drones shortly after the Ukrainian air force warned of a possible launch of a hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile.

Explosions occurred after 1 am following the air force's warning on Telegram. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko reported at least three injuries and damage to residential buildings.

"The attack was a mass ballistic missile strike affecting four locations," said Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv city military administration.

The affected districts were Shevchenkivsky, Dniprovsky, and Podilsky, with fires and damage to residential buildings. Debris caught fire at a school in the city center.

Global Warning from Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that use of the Oreshnik missile "sets a global precedent for other potential aggressors" and called for a preventive response from the world.

On Saturday, Zelenskyy said intelligence from Ukraine, the US, and Europe indicated Russia was preparing a strike using the Oreshnik missile.

Uncertain Confirmation

The Ukrainian air force did not confirm whether an Oreshnik missile hit any target. Russia has previously used the Oreshnik missile twice and deployed it to Belarus.

Meanwhile, Russian officials reported the death toll from a Ukrainian strike on a college in a Russian-occupied town in eastern Ukraine rose to 18.

Other Developments

British Casualty in Donetsk

A 23-year-old Briton, Ayrton Redfearn, died in Ukraine's Donetsk region on 9 May. He had joined a specialist unit supporting the Ukrainian army. The FCDO is supporting his family.

Director's Plea for Peace

Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev, whose film "Minotaur" won the Grand Prix at Cannes, urged President Putin to end the "carnage" in Ukraine, stating millions hope for the massacres to stop.