Russia finally responded to the latest Ukrainian/NATO provocation and hammered Kiev with several ballistic missiles. On Friday, Ukraine/NATO hit the Lugansk Pedagogical University, including the dormitory where the students were sleeping, with a wave of airstrikes killing at least 21. Public outrage made the answer inevitable, and here it is. Will there be more?
Here’s the latest from RT:
Ukrainian media and Telegram channels shared videos showing clusters of bright objects rapidly descending from the sky. They say the video captured the deployment of Russia’s hypersonic Oreshnik system, although Moscow has not officially confirmed the launch.
The latest images are similar to videos released in January, when Russia used the Oreshnik system to strike a Ukrainian aircraft factory in Lviv that repairs and supplies warplanes and produces long-range drones.
The reported strike came after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Defense Ministry to “bring forward proposals” for a response to a Ukrainian airstrike on a student dormitory in the Lugansk People’s Republic, which left 21 people, mostly children, dead and 42 injured.
Here’s the video and comments from Twitter:
Attack on Kyiv tonight.
At least 20 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 6 Kalibr cruise missiles, 4 Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, and 2 Oreshnik IRBMs targeted Kyiv. At least 12 Kh-101 missiles are now on their way to Kyiv.
More arrows…
— AMK Mapping 🇳🇿 (@AMK_Mapping_) May 24, 2026
First we see Oreshnik in the clear sky.
Kiev is having a bad night right now. pic.twitter.com/Tu1htzqpJQ
— Armchair Warlord (@ArmchairW) May 23, 2026
Huge fires are seen burning in Kiev.
Many war industrial plants were targeted. pic.twitter.com/PBu022HExs
— ayden (@squatsons) May 24, 2026
Unconfirmed reports that Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi may have been killed. pic.twitter.com/3Pc2D6H6SH
— RUnews (@runews) May 23, 2026
NASA FIRMS data shows large fires burning at the Artem Defense Plant in Kyiv following a Russian ballistic and cruise missile attack.
The Artem plant is known for producing air-to-air missiles, air-guided missile training and maintenance systems,… pic.twitter.com/Lb4OpPAGZl
— AMK Mapping 🇳🇿 (@AMK_Mapping_) May 24, 2026
🇷🇺🇺🇦 Fragment of a Patriot anti-aircraft missile somewhere in Kiev. Ukrainian propagandists have traditionally attributed the missile to “Russian”. pic.twitter.com/9mpc5g8W6m
— Black Diamond (@blackdiammon) May 24, 2026
What impact will the strikes have on Ukrainian leaders’ determination to continue feeding the meat grinder? Will European leaders do anything but ask for more aid for Ukraine?
the sculptures are Apocalyptic and only part of the damage Russia can do if the chihuahuas in Europe continue to light up the Kiev terrorist attacks in Russia. He sees the sky light up as the strikes hit home, one after the other. Moscow does not play games.
– THE ISLANDER (@IslanderWORLD) May 24, 2026
Just before the Russian strikes on Kiev, Ukraine had made renewed and admirably timed demands for EU membership. From Reuters:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a letter to EU leaders that Germany’s proposal to grant Ukraine European Union membership is “wrong” because it would leave Kyiv without a voice within the bloc.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested earlier this week allowing Ukraine to participate in EU meetings and institutions without a vote as a temporary step towards full membership of the bloc, which he said could help broker a deal to end the four-year war that began with Russia’s invasion.
In response, Zelenskiy said in a letter sent late on Friday, reviewed by Reuters, that Ukraine is moving ahead quickly with the reforms needed for full EU membership while also acting as a buffer against Russian aggression throughout the 27-nation bloc.
“We are defending Europe – fully, not partially, and not with partial measures,” the 48-year-old leader said, accusing Russia of trying to destroy European unity and destabilize parts of the continent. “It would be wrong for Ukraine to exist in the European Union, but remain silent.”
So there’s that.
Regardless of the strikes, models of attritional warfare continue to suggest that Ukraine is nearing a tipping point.
Source: Cliodynamica by Peter Turchin
Warwick Powell predicts that the tipping point will come in July-September. Peter Turchin is very cautious but admits that the fall is imminent. The growing number of complaints—and attacks—against Ukrainian enlisted officials support these predictions.
