Russia also launched an Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, on a town 90 km south of Kyiv.

This was only the third time Russia has used this weapon since the start of the war, and each time, it has done so in moments where it’s particularly exposed, more for political effect than battlefield gain.

The first was in Dnipro in November 2024, days after then-US president Biden authorised Ukraine to fire US-supplied ATAC missile systems into Russia. The second was in January 2026 in Lviv, when Russia alleged a Ukrainian drone struck Putin's residence, which Kyiv denies.

Russia intended there to be a fourth – it fired a second Oreshnik this past weekend, but it malfunctioned and struck the occupied Donetsk Oblast instead.

Putin’s humiliation

For Putin, killing civilians is a humiliation response.

Ukraine has been hitting Russia where it hurts, launching long-range drone strikes at oil refineries deep into Russian territory. Nearly 40% of Russia's oil export capacity is out of service as a result. And oil is not the only way it's hurting.

Russia’s Victory Day on 9 May, accompanied by a temporary ceasefire, was meant to project strength. But this year, the lacklustre parade – with no armoured vehicles on Red Square for the first time in nearly two decades, out of fear of Ukrainian drones – went viral, just not for the reasons Putin hoped.

The Institute for the Study of War wrote that Russia was “posturing strength after the humiliation of the ceasefire itself.” Jokes about Russia being too scared to even celebrate its most acclaimed holiday properly trended online.

The language of autocracy

But Kyiv's bombardment does serve a strategic benefit. Russia doesn't just send 600 drones followed by missiles for show – it does it to deplete Ukraine’s air defences. Each interception drains crucial US Patriot missile stocks – the only ones able to defend against ballistic missiles – that Washington is no longer replenishing.

Right now, no European air defence missile system is being manufactured at anywhere near the volume Ukraine needs.

The strikes also land as a signal of strength in negotiations with Washington. Trump, like Putin, speaks the language of hitting hard (a lot of strikes at once) and fast (over hours rather than days). While the peace talks have stalled, both Russia and Zelenskiy said earlier this month they expect diplomacy to intensify.

Ahead of renewed talks, Putin wants to come to the table with a terrorised Ukraine and a Washington that takes Russia seriously. Data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies shows Russia dials its strike tempo up when talks stall, and down when they're active.

Photo taken from State Emergency Services of Ukraine. “Destructions in Kyiv region after Russian mass attack the night of 24 May 2026”