Rescue workers try to put out a fire at a residential building after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine. (AP Photo)Russia used the Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile during a mass drone and missile attack on Kyiv Sunday that killed at least two people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. This is the third time the weapon has been used in the four-year war.The Oreshnik, which can carry nuclear or conventional warheads, struck the city of Bila Tserkva in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said on Telegram. Russia’s Defence Ministry later confirmed the use of the missile and said it targeted Ukrainian “military command facilities, air bases and military industrial enterprises.”The overnight strike on Kyiv killed at least two people and wounded 83 others, according to Ukrainian authorities. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 600 strike drones and 90 missiles from air, sea and ground platforms. Ukrainian defences intercepted or jammed 549 drones and 55 missiles, while 19 missiles failed to reach targets, the air force said.Russia confirms Oreshnik useRussia’s Defence Ministry said the strikes were retaliation for what it called Ukrainian attacks on “civilian facilities in Russian territory” without elaborating further. The ministry later told Russian media that the overnight assault did not target civilian sites, Tass state agency reported.Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier ordered the military to prepare and submit retaliation proposals after a drone strike on a college dormitory in eastern Ukraine. Moscow blamed Kyiv for the strike in Starobilsk, where Russian emergency authorities said 21 people died and 42 suffered injuries.At a UN Security Council emergency meeting requested by Russia, Ukrainian Ambassador Andrii Melnyk rejected Moscow’s accusations of war crimes, calling it a “pure progaganda show” and said Ukraine’s May 22 operations “exclusively targeted the Russian war machine.”What Russia says about the OreshnikRussia first used the Oreshnik missile on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in November 2024. Moscow used it again in the Lviv region in January.Story continues below this adPutin has said the Oreshnik (meaning hazelnut tree in Russian) travels at mach 10 (ten times the speed of sound) and can destroy underground bunkers several floors deep. He has also claimed the weapon remains immune to missile defence systems and said multiple Oreshnik missiles fitted with conventional warheads could cause destruction comparable to a nuclear strike.Earlier,Zelenskyy has warned that Russia was preparing another Oreshnik attack, citing intelligence from US and other Western partners.Ukraine’s air defence shortageZelenskyy said Ukraine failed to intercept all ballistic missiles during Sunday’s strikes and that most of it targeted Kyiv.The attack highlighted Ukraine’s shortage of air defence missiles capable of intercepting and downing ballistic weapons. Kyiv depends on US-made Patriot systems for such interceptions, but interceptor missile stocks remain limited.Story continues below this adUkraine’s Defence Ministry has prioritised the development of a domestic alternative, though officials say it will require more time and funding.Damage across KyivUkraine’s emergency service said strikes damaged at least 50 locations across Kyiv, including residential buildings, schools, shopping centres and police department buildings.In Kyiv’s Shevchenko district, a strike hit a five-storey residential building and killed one person, according to Ukraine’s emergency officials. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said an attack damaged a school while residents sheltered inside.Fires continued into the morning as rescue teams worked through collapsed structures.Story continues below this ad“It was a terrible night, and there had never been anything like it in the entire war,” said Kyiv resident Svitlana Onofryichuk, 55, who worked in a market for 22 years. “My job is gone, everything is gone, everything has burned down,” she told news agency AP.Yevhen Zosin, 74, a Kyiv resident who witnessed the attack, said the moment he heard the explosion, he rushed to grab his dog. “Then there was another explosion, and she and I were thrown back like a pin by the shock wave. We both survived, she and I. My apartment was blown to pieces,” he said.Elsewhere, authorities in Russia’s Belgorod region said a Ukrainian drone strike killed one civilian in the town of Grayvoron. Russia’s Defence Ministry said it intercepted or jammed 33 Ukrainian drones overnight, including over the Moscow region and Crimea.The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd