Russia Claims Successful Missile Strike on Ukraine's Military Command Centers
Quick Look
- Russia's Defense Ministry reported on May 24 that its forces successfully struck Ukraine's military command centers using Oreshnik, Iskander, Kinzhal, and Tsirkon missiles in retaliation for attacks on civilian facilities.
- Ukrainian air defenses reportedly failed to intercept the missiles, with sources citing a shortage of interceptor missiles.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Russia's Defense Ministry stated that the strike was in retaliation for Ukraine's attacks on civilian facilities on Russian territory. The report details the types of missiles used and claims all designated targets were hit. It also notes damage in Kiev and the failure of Ukrainian air defenses.
MOSCOW, May 25. /TASS/. Russian forces delivered a strike by Oreshnik, Iskander, Kinzhal and Tsirkon missiles on Ukraine’s military command centers in retaliation to attacks on civilian facilities, hitting all the designated targets, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on May 24.
Ukrainian air defenses failed to counter Russian missile strikes on military targets in Kiev and the Kiev Region, Strana media outlet reported, citing its sources.
TASS has put together key facts about Russia’s retaliatory strike.
Retaliatory strike
- In retaliation to Ukraine’s terrorist attacks on civilian facilities on Russian territory, the Russian Armed Forces delivered a massive strike by Oreshnik hypersonic and Iskander ballistic missiles, Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic ballistic missiles and Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missiles, airborne, seaborne and ground-based long-range cruise missiles and attack unmanned aerial vehicles on Ukraine’s military command centers, airbases and military-industrial enterprises, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on May 24.
- The goals of the strike were achieved and all the designated targets were hit, the ministry said.
Damage in Kiev
- The building in Kiev housing the apartments of Vladimir Zelensky and his friend Timur Mindich who is involved in the corruption scandal sustained damage as a result of explosions, Ukrainskaya Pravda media outlet reported.
- The building could have been damaged by the debris of an air defense missile, the media outlet said.
- Previous reports said that the buildings of the Ukrainian government, the Foreign Ministry and the Tax Service Main Directorate were damaged.
- Overall, fires and destruction were registered in 40 locations in eight districts of Kiev, Ukraine’s Emergencies Service reported.
Failed Ukrainian air defenses
- Ukrainian air defenses failed to counter Russian missile strikes on military installations in Kiev and the Kiev Region, Strana media outlet reported, citing its sources.
- According to the media outlet’s data, "Ukrainian monitoring public networks admit that the air defenses failed to counter the strikes properly and there were many hits by missiles and even data by the Ukrainian Air Force command indicate that not a single Kinzhal or Tsirkon missile was shot down.
- Sources of Strana media outlet explains this by a shortage of interceptor missiles for US-made air defense systems.
- Some other Ukrainian media outlets presume that the Ukrainian military is simply economizing on missiles.
Open Questions
- What specific civilian facilities in Russia were attacked by Ukraine?
- What is the extent of the damage to Ukraine's military command centers and industrial enterprises?
- What is the actual number of Ukrainian air defense systems and interceptor missiles available?
- What is the Ukrainian government's official response to the missile strikes and the reported damage?
