Zelenskiy Warns Russia May Fire Oreshnik at Kyiv as Putin Orders Retaliation Over Dorm Strike
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 23
Zelenskiy Warns Russia May Fire Oreshnik at Kyiv as Putin Orders Retaliation Over Dorm Strike
10 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 23
Ukrainian intelligence, backed by U.S. and European partners, indicates Russia is preparing a combined strike on Ukraine that could include an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile and hit Kyiv, Zelenskiy said.
Putin ordered retaliation options a day earlier after a drone strike on a student dormitory in Russian-controlled Luhansk; Ukraine's military denied carrying out that attack.
Russia has used the Oreshnik twice before — in November 2024 and January 2026 — and Putin has said the missile travels at more than 10 times the speed of sound and cannot be intercepted.
Zelenskiy urged the United States and Europe to act preventively, arguing another Oreshnik strike would escalate the war and set a wider precedent for other potential aggressors.
As US aid falters, can Ukraine’s drone strikes on Russian oil refineries win the war alone?
Is Russia's missile deployment in Belarus a genuine military escalation or simply political posturing?
Russia’s Oreshnik Missile Threat: Major Strikes on Kyiv, NATO Border Escalation, and International Response (May 2026)
Overview
On May 23, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urgently warned of a possible major Russian strike on Kyiv, highlighting the threat posed by Russia’s advanced Oreshnik missile. This warning came amid rising tensions after Russia accused Ukraine of a deadly drone attack in Luhansk, which Russia claimed killed at least 18 people. Zelensky stressed that the use of such sophisticated weapons could set a dangerous global precedent and called on the United States and Europe to pay close attention. The situation reflects escalating conflict, growing international concern, and the risk of further destabilization in the region.