Russia Launches Hypersonic Missile Against Ukraine With No Agreement In Sight

Russia launched a hypersonic ballistic missile against Ukraine as part of one of the largest bombings since the war began more than four years ago.

CNN detailed that the missile in question was the Oreshnik, which is almost unstoppable to Ukrainian air defenses at the moment.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the impact took place near the city of Bila Tserkva in Central Ukraine. “They’re really out of their minds. It’s vital that this doesn’t go unpunished for Russia,” he said.

“Unfortunately, not all the ballistic missiles were shot down. Kyiv suffered the most hits, and it was Kyiv that was the main target of this Russian attack,” he added.

Overall, Moscow fired some 600 drones and 90 missiles at the central Kyiv region, the Ukrainian Air Force said. Officials claimed to have downed 604 weapons. Four people died and 87 were injured as a result of the attack, including three children, the Ukrainian emergency services said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he ordered the attack as retaliation for an Ukrainian one in an occupied part of Ukraine. He said Ukrainian drones hit a college dormitory in the town of Starobilsk, in eastern Luhansk.

Russian state news agency TASS said during the weekend that 18 children were killed in the strike and three people are believed to be trapped under the rubble.

European leaders condemned the use of the missile by Russia. “Moscow reportedly using Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles – systems designed to carry nuclear warheads – is a political scare-tactic and reckless nuclear-brinkmanship,” said EU foreign affairs head Kaja Kallas. She added that “EU Foreign Ministers will discuss how to dial up the international pressure on Russia” this week.

French President Emmanual Macron said the use of the missile was an “escalation” in Russia’s “war of aggression.”

Zelensky, on his end, said “decisions are needed from the United States of America, from Europe, and from others, so that this old curmudgeon in Moscow utters the word ‘peace’.”

The developments come after Russia conducted three days of nuclear drills involving tens of thousands of troops and the launching of missiles last week.

The drills rehearsed the “preparation and use of nuclear forces in the event of aggression.” It also included training in how to use the country’s tactical nuclear weapons currently deployed in Belarus.