missile attacks

Russia on May 24 struck Ukraine with an Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile — a weapon Kyiv currently has no capability to intercept. Here’s what we know about this nuclear-capable missile

Russia launched a large overnight missile and drone assault on Ukraine, reportedly using Oreshnik, Iskander, Kinzhal and Zircon missiles in retaliation for Ukrainian attacks inside Russia. Ukrainian authorities said two people were killed and 56 injured in strikes across Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed Russia used the hypersonic Oreshnik missile, causing widespread damage to homes, schools and infrastructure.

Russia is upgrading its Kh-101 cruise missiles with advanced countermeasures to counter Ukraine's air defences. Recent footage shows these missiles deploying flares and potentially radar-confusing chaff. Despite these efforts, Ukraine claims high interception rates, though Russia's hypersonic missiles like Oreshnik pose a greater future threat.

India's defence forces are enhancing aerial protection with the new Joint Air Defence Doctrine, integrating Army, Navy, and Air Force for a unified shield. This move, following successful operations and global vulnerabilities, aims to counter modern threats like drones and hypersonic weapons. Technological advancements, including new missile systems, bolster this multi-layered defence strategy.

Russia's latest missile and drone assault on Kyiv, featuring the hypersonic Oreshnik, signals a dangerous escalation. Moscow aims to break Ukraine's resilience and psychologically pressure the West. The attacks target Kyiv as the political heart, overload air defenses, and serve as geopolitical signaling, demonstrating Russia's strategic strike capabilities and readiness for a prolonged conflict.

Kyiv endured a massive overnight aerial assault, with Russia deploying over 700 drones and 50 missiles, including the hypersonic Oreshnik. The barrage, described as one of the war's most intense, struck government buildings and residential areas, causing casualties and widespread damage. Russia stated the strikes targeted military facilities in retaliation for Ukrainian attacks.

A recent Iran conflict has significantly depleted US high-end missile stockpiles, raising alarms in Washington. Critical systems like Tomahawks and Patriots may take years to replenish, creating a 'window of vulnerability' amid rising tensions with China. Production bottlenecks and allied demands complicate rebuilding efforts, impacting future defense readiness.

Russia unleashed a fierce assault on Kyiv, deploying the nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile alongside numerous drones and other advanced weaponry. This escalation followed Moscow's accusations of Ukrainian strikes on a student dormitory, which Kyiv denied.

Russia's Oreshnik missile, capable of Mach 10 speeds and MIRV warheads, struck Kyiv in retaliation for a Ukrainian drone attack. This hypersonic threat overwhelms current air defenses. India's Agni-V, a comparable MIRV-equipped IRBM, boasts Mach 24 speeds and advanced features, enhancing its survivability and strike capability.

An Iranian missile struck Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. The attack damaged two US MQ-9 Reaper drones, with one destroyed and another severely damaged. Several American personnel sustained minor injuries. Kuwaiti air defenses intercepted the missile, but debris fell onto the base.

In a dramatic turn of events, Kuwait's air defense forces successfully neutralized incoming missile and drone threats, reflecting the heightened tensions between the US and Iran. This incident unfolds in the wake of Iran's announcement about attacking a US airbase, a reaction to previous American strikes near Bandar Abbas where four Iranian drones met their demise.

According to images examined by Reuters, China has built more than 80 launch pads along with three large octagon-shaped facilities near the Hami nuclear missile silo field in the country's north-west. The launch pads could be used by mobile missile launchers and air-defence systems, while the larger facilities may support communications, electronic warfare and military command functions, according to security analysts who reviewed the imagery.

Fresh US intelligence suggests Iran has resumed military production, including drones, much sooner than anticipated, raising concerns about its rapid arsenal regeneration. Tehran's strategy of decentralized manufacturing and reliance on commercially available components allows for swift replenishment of weapons like Shahed drones and Fateh missiles, even after recent strikes.

Seoul said Wednesday it would summon Iran's ambassador to protest after a probe concluded that a strike on a South Korean ship in the Strait of Hormuz was "highly likely" an Iranian-made missile. "Our government plans to summon the Iranian ambassador to explain the investigation results, convey a strong protest regarding the attack on our vessel, and demand responsible measures, including steps to prevent a recurrence," first vice foreign minister Park Yoon-joo said during a briefing.

Questions are mounting over Supreme Leader Khamenei's direct involvement in Iran's ongoing US negotiations, with reports citing "serious ambiguities" about coordination. This uncertainty follows trips by Iranian officials and a reluctance to hold talks in Tehran or Pakistan, fueling speculation about who is directing the diplomatic process amid heightened Gulf tensions and ongoing clashes.

The UAE's involvement in the Middle East conflict was deeper than previously known, with coordinated strikes on Iran, including energy facilities, even after an April ceasefire. These actions exposed divisions within the Gulf, as Saudi Arabia expressed concerns about escalating risks to regional energy supplies and global markets.

Russia's S-400 missile defense system deliveries to India are proceeding as scheduled, bolstering New Delhi's aerial shield with an additional squadron. This advanced system, a key component of India's air defense, is recognized for its precision and lethal accuracy in engaging various aerial threats.

A drone attack on the UAE's Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the Arab world's sole operational nuclear facility, has sparked global concern. While authorities assure no radioactive leak, the incident highlights vulnerabilities in nuclear infrastructure. India condemned the strike as a dangerous escalation, urging restraint and dialogue amidst escalating regional tensions.

Intense fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war continues as Ukraine launched drone attacks hitting fuel facilities in Yaroslavl Oblast. Russia claims to have intercepted hundreds of drones. Meanwhile, a Russian drone struck an apartment building in Romania, injuring two. The US remains open to mediation, while Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has appealed to Donald Trump for air defence systems.

Drones are revolutionizing warfare, with their cost-effectiveness making them ubiquitous. Counter-drone systems are evolving rapidly, increasingly relying on non-kinetic methods like lasers and EMPs to neutralize threats. Advanced detection and identification technologies, including AI and sophisticated sensors, are crucial in this escalating technological arms race.

A Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in eastern Romania, injuring two people and sparking outrage. President Nicusor Dan called it the "worst incident to hit the national territory" since the war began. NATO and EU leaders condemned the "serious and irresponsible escalation," with Romania requesting faster anti-drone aid. This occurred amidst renewed Russian attacks on Ukraine.

Defence analysts warn the issue is not just the quantity of weapons today but the speed at which industry can regenerate what has been used. A single week of heavy combat in either theatre can consume months of production output for certain precision munitions and interceptors. This has transformed a temporary logistical challenge into a broader strategic concern.