Russia conducted a significant strike on Ukraine on March 15, 2024, utilizing its newly developed Oreshnik hypersonic missile alongside a range of other weaponry. Ukrainian officials confirmed that the overnight assault resulted in four fatalities and at least 22 injuries in the capital, Kyiv. While Russian authorities did not disclose the specific targets of the Oreshnik missile, reports from Russian media indicated that it struck a major underground natural gas storage facility located in Ukraine’s western Lviv region.
The Russian Defense Ministry characterized the strike as retaliation for a purported Ukrainian drone attack on President Vladimir Putin‘s residence last month. Both Ukrainian officials and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have denied these claims. The Russian military stated that the barrage also involved attack drones and precision-guided long-range weapons from land and sea, as reported by Reuters.
According to Ukraine’s air force, the attack included a total of 242 drones and 36 missiles, among which were Oreshnik projectiles. Ukrainian defense systems successfully intercepted 226 of the drones and approximately half of the missiles launched during the assault. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadoviy confirmed that critical infrastructure was targeted with a ballistic missile, emphasizing that the weapon reached speeds of 13,000 kilometers per hour (over 8,000 miles per hour). Investigations are ongoing regarding the specific type of missile used.
First tested in November 2024, the Oreshnik, which translates to “hazelnut tree” in Russian, is designed to deliver multiple warheads at speeds exceeding ten times the speed of sound. Putin has publicly claimed that the missile’s capabilities could cause devastation comparable to a nuclear strike when deployed in conventional operations. The missile is also capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
In light of the recent escalation, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed concern over the proximity of the Oreshnik’s deployment to the borders of the European Union and NATO. He described the situation as a “grave threat” to security on the European continent and called for robust responses from the transatlantic community to counter Russia’s aggressive actions.
The strike on Kyiv resulted in casualties, including an emergency medical aid worker, as reported by Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration. Injuries were also reported among five rescue workers who were responding to the ongoing attacks. Multiple districts within the capital sustained damage; in the Desnyanskyi district, a drone crash led to damage on a multi-story building, while other areas experienced destruction to residential structures.
As a consequence of the assaults, essential services such as running water and electricity were disrupted in various parts of Kyiv, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. This attack occurred shortly after President Zelenskyy alerted citizens to the potential for a large-scale offensive from Russia, predicting that the harsh winter weather could be exploited to increase the likelihood of military action.
The situation remains tense as both Ukraine and its allies seek to address the ramifications of Russia’s recent military activities. The international community is closely monitoring developments, with calls for a coordinated response to ensure regional stability in the face of escalating threats.
