KYIV (Reuters) – Russia pounded Kyiv and surrounding areas with hundreds of drones and missiles on Sunday in one of the heaviest bombardments of the city since the start of the four-year war, firing an Oreshnik hypersonic missile near the capital.
Russia’s hours-long overnight barrage killed four people and wounded more than 80, according to Ukrainian officials, and officials said dozens of residential buildings and several schools had been damaged.
“It was a terrible night for Kyiv,” Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a Telegram message from the site of one attack. “Right now, rescuers are putting out fires and clearing debris. Medics are providing assistance to the victims.”
It was only the third time that Russia has used the Oreshnik missile against Ukraine since the war began with Russia’s military operation in February 2022. The Oreshnik has a range of several thousand kilometres and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
The previous two strikes had hit major cities, but Zelenskiy said this one had struck Bila Tserkva, a city of 200,000 people that lies about 40 miles (64 km) from the outskirts of Kyiv.
In total, the air force said, Russia launched 90 missiles and 600 drones.
“It’s important that this does not remain without consequences for Russia,” Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app. “Decisions are needed – from the United States, from Europe and others.”
Zelenskiy said Russia had also targeted water-supply facilities, saying Moscow wanted to damage them before the summer increased demand.
Russia said it had used Oreshnik, Iskander, Kinzhal and Zircon missiles in retaliation for Kyiv’s strikes on civilian targets in Russia. Ukraine says it does not target civilians.
Interfax news agency cited the Russian Defence Ministry as saying the strikes targeted Ukrainian military command facilities, including sites used by land forces and military intelligence, air bases and military-industrial sites.
Moscow also denies targeting civilians, although thousands have been killed by its bombardments of Ukrainian cities during the war.
