Massive Russian missile and drone attack hits Kyiv

On May 24, 2026, Kyiv was subjected to a massive, combined aerial attack involving various types of missiles and drones, triggering air raid alerts across Ukraine. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, reported that a school in the Shevchenkivskyi district was struck, causing a fire, while debris from a nearby strike blocked the entrance to a civilian shelter. Reports on casualties vary, with initial counts indicating at least one fatality and between 3 and 13 injuries, several of whom required hospitalization. The attacks followed warnings from President Volodymyr Zelensky and the U.S. embassy regarding a potential escalation. Russian forces reportedly targeted at least four locations in the city, with explosions causing damage to residential buildings. The strikes are viewed as retaliation for recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian-held territories. Authorities have cautioned about the potential use of Oreshnik hypersonic missiles, a weapon previously utilized by Russia in 2024 and early 2026.