The Attack in Detail

Ukraine's air force reported that Russia fired 600 drones and 90 missiles on May 24, according to NPR. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted most of the drones and more than half the missiles. That accounted for the destruction across every district of Kyiv, as confirmed by Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko.

The Oreshnik hypersonic missile struck Bila Tserkva — a city roughly 50 miles south of Kyiv — according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This was the third time Russian forces have used the Oreshnik during the full-scale war.

Casualty figures varied as the day progressed. The BBC reported four people killed in Kyiv and the wider region, with roughly 100 injured. NPR cited at least two killed and 77 injured based on earlier figures from Klitschko. The divergence reflects updated counts as rescue operations continued.

The Cultural Damage

Ukraine's Culture Minister Tetyana Berezhna told NPR that the May 24 attacks damaged more cultural institutions in Kyiv than any single attack since Russia's February 2022 invasion began. The Chernobyl Disaster Museum — dedicated to the 1986 nuclear accident — was destroyed entirely. One of Kyiv's oldest markets burned down. A school and an opera house were among the damaged structures, according to the BBC.

Putin's Stated Justification

Russia's defense ministry confirmed the Oreshnik's use on Telegram, framing the strikes as retaliation for Ukraine's "attacks on civilian infrastructure," according to BBC. Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed to a Ukrainian strike on a student dormitory in Starobilsk on Friday in which Russian officials claimed 21 people were killed.

Ukraine's military acknowledged striking Starobilsk but said the target was an elite Russian drone military unit — not a student dormitory. Both sides accused the other of hitting civilians. Russia then fired 690 combined drones and missiles at the capital.

European Response

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU would send additional support to reinforce Ukraine's air defense systems, according to NPR. Her statement called the attack evidence of "the Kremlin's brutality and disregard for both human life and peace negotiations."

BBC noted that European leaders broadly condemned the strikes, which came after Zelenskyy publicly warned — citing European and U.S. intelligence — that a large Oreshnik-involved attack was imminent.

Coverage Gaps

The New York Times initially hedged on whether the Oreshnik had been used, saying "it was unclear" if the hypersonic missile had been deployed. Russia's defense ministry confirmed it. Zelenskyy confirmed it. Ukraine's air force confirmed it.

Almost every outlet buried the detail that the Oreshnik struck Bila Tserkva, not Kyiv proper, leading readers to assume otherwise. The Chernobyl Museum's destruction received minimal coverage despite being one of the most significant single losses in the war.

Implications

Ukrainian air defenses stopped many incoming weapons, but 690 is a number few air defense systems handle without gaps. Civilian infrastructure continues to be hit.

Russia has now fired a hypersonic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead three times during this conflict. Each use establishes a precedent for the next.

European pledges of additional air defense support matter less than delivery timelines. Kyiv was hit on a night when Zelenskyy had publicly warned an Oreshnik was coming. Better intelligence did not stop it. Better hardware may.