Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia may be preparing a large-scale attack using a hypersonic ballistic missile known as “Oreshnik,” based on intelligence shared by Ukraine, the United States, and European allies.
According to Zelenskyy, there are indications that Russia could launch a coordinated strike targeting Ukrainian territory, including the capital, Kyiv. The potential attack could involve multiple types of weapons, with intermediate-range systems like Oreshnik possibly playing a key role.
The warning follows recent tensions after Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed his military to prepare retaliatory measures in response to a reported drone strike in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region—an incident Ukraine has denied involvement in.
Russia has previously used the Oreshnik missile in attacks on Ukraine. The weapon is said to travel at speeds exceeding ten times the speed of sound, making interception extremely difficult. Earlier deployments reportedly caused limited damage, including one instance where the missile carried non-explosive payloads.
Zelenskyy stressed that the potential use of such advanced weapons could escalate the conflict and set a dangerous global precedent. He called on international partners to take preventive action rather than reacting after any strike occurred.
Leaders from Western nations, including the UK, France, and Germany, have previously condemned the use of such missiles, describing them as a serious escalation in the ongoing war.