Russia finally responded to recent Ukraine/NATO provocations by attacking Kiev with several ballistic missiles. On Friday, Ukraine/NATO attacked the Lugansk Pedagogical University, killing at least 21 people in a wave of drones, including in the dormitory where students were sleeping. Public anger makes a response inevitable, and here it is. Will there be more?
Here’s the latest from RT:
Ukrainian media and Telegram channels circulated a video showing a mass of bright objects rapidly descending from the sky. They claimed the footage captured the use of Russia’s medium-range hypersonic Oleshnik system, but the Russian government has not officially acknowledged the launch.
The latest footage is similar to footage that surfaced in January when Russia used the Oreshnik system in an attack on a Ukrainian aviation factory in Lviv that repaired and maintained fighter jets and produced long-range unmanned aerial vehicles.
The attack came after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Ministry of Defense to “submit proposals” for a response to a Ukrainian drone attack on a school dormitory in the Lugansk People’s Republic that killed 21 people, mostly children, and injured 42 others, the report said.
And here’s the video and comments from Twitter:
Massive attack on Kyiv tonight.
At least 20 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, six Kalibr cruise missiles, four Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, and two Oreshnik IRBMs targeted Kiev. At least 12 Kh-101 cruise missiles are currently on their way to Kiev.
Additional missiles… https://t.co/sy803KVrty
— AMK Mapping 🇳🇿 (@AMK_Mapping_) May 24, 2026
I saw Oleshnik for the first time from a clear sky.
Kiev is having a bad night right now. https://t.co/7nWAdLCySY pic.twitter.com/Tu1htzqpJQ
— Armchair Warlord (@ArmchairW) May 23, 2026
A huge fire breaks out in Kyiv.
Several military industry factories were targeted. pic.twitter.com/PBu022HExs
— Aiden (@squatsons) May 24, 2026
Unconfirmed reports that Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Shirschiy may have been killed https://t.co/ckVAGDHy3P pic.twitter.com/3Pc2D6H6SH
— RUnews (@runews) May 23, 2026
A massive fire has broken out at the Artyom Defense Plant in Kiev following an overnight ballistic and cruise missile attack by Russia, according to NASA FIRMS data.
The Artem factory is known for producing air-to-air missiles, automated air-guided missile training and maintenance systems, and more. pic.twitter.com/Lb4OpPAGZl
— AMK Mapping 🇳🇿 (@AMK_Mapping_) May 24, 2026
🇷🇺🇺🇦 Fragment of a Patriot anti-aircraft missile somewhere in Kiev. Ukrainian propagandists traditionally claim that this is a “Russian” missile. pic.twitter.com/9mpc5g8W6m
— Black Diamond (@blackdiammon) May 24, 2026
Will the strike have any impact on the Ukrainian leader’s determination to keep the meat grinders fed? Will European leaders do anything other than seek more aid for Ukraine?
This footage is apocalyptic and is just a glimpse of the damage that could happen to Russia if Europe’s Chihuahua continues to greenlight terrorist attacks against Russia in Kiev. You can see the sky becoming brighter as the attacks hit layer after layer. Moscow is not playing. https://t.co/fnymRGHZdU
— Islander (@IslanderWORLD) May 24, 2026
Just before the Russian attack on Kiev, Ukraine made a perfectly timed new demand for EU membership. From Reuters:
In a letter to EU leaders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Germany’s proposal to grant Ukraine “associate” membership in the EU was “unfair” because it would mean it would lose its voice in Kiev.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signaled earlier this week that he would allow Ukraine to participate in EU meetings and institutions without a vote as an interim step towards full EU membership, saying this could help facilitate a deal to end a four-year war sparked by Russian aggression.
In response, President Zelenskiy said in a letter sent late Friday and seen by Reuters that Ukraine was moving quickly on reforms needed for full EU membership, while also acting as a bulwark against Russian aggression across the 27-nation bloc.
“We are defending Europe in its entirety, not in parts and not in half-measures,” the 48-year-old leader said, accusing Russia of trying to destroy European unity and destabilize parts of the continent. “It is unfair that Ukraine is a member of the European Union but does not have a voice.”
So there you have it.
Regardless of the attack, the war of attrition model continues to suggest that Ukraine is nearing a breaking point.
Source: Cliodynamica by Peter Turchin
Warwick Powell expects a turning point to occur between July and September. Peter Turchin is more cautious, but agrees that collapse is near. The increasing number of complaints and attacks against enlisted officers in Ukraine confirms these predictions.
