Russia Unleashes "Difficult-to-Intercept" Hypersonic Missiles on Ukraine

Russian forces have launched intense and unprecedented attacks using cruise, ballistic, and hypersonic missiles, along with "drone" aircraft, targeting vital areas across Ukraine on Sunday night and Monday morning. These assaults resulted in at least one fatality in the capital, Kyiv, and damaged several sites in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, marking a dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict.

Details of the Attacks and Casualties

• Kyiv Under Fire: Air raid alerts were raised in Kyiv at 11 PM local time on Sunday and continued for 5 consecutive hours. Timur Tkachenko, head of the city's military administration, confirmed that at least one person was killed and two others injured as a result of the overnight attacks. Widespread fires erupted on the roofs of several buildings and a supermarket in the Darnytskyi district in the southeast of the capital. Fires also affected the central Shevchenkivskyi and Dniprovskyi districts, causing significant damage to two residential buildings and a shopping center, with debris falling on a kindergarten in Dniprovskyi, highlighting the scale of destruction left by these attacks. Residents in the northwest of the country sought refuge in the Lukianivska metro station, whose entrance was damaged, in search of safety.

• Kharkiv Hit by 12 Strikes: Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that the city was hit by 12 missile strikes. One of the strikes ignited a fire near a multi-story residential building in the northern Kyivskyi district. Although no immediate casualties were reported in Kharkiv, the attacks caused shattered windows and damaged roads, tram lines, and electrical wires, reflecting the widespread damage to civilian infrastructure.

Russia's Advanced Tactics

The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that the latest attack included cruise and ballistic missiles, in addition to advanced hypersonic missiles, which are known to be difficult to intercept. These developments suggest that Russia is employing its latest arsenal to increase pressure on Ukraine and bypass its air defense systems. Russia has intensified its nighttime raids in recent weeks, targeting cities far from the front lines in a clear attempt to destabilize and inflict maximum damage on critical infrastructure. Earlier this month, Moscow launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine, using 728 offensive and decoy drones and 13 missiles, indicating a growing Russian strategy relying on comprehensive aerial assaults.

Zelenskyy's Call for Negotiations

Amidst this escalation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his daily address on Saturday, called for talks with Russia this week to advance ceasefire negotiations. This call comes amid increasing US pressure on Moscow to reach an agreement, highlighting ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, despite the rising hostilities on the ground.