- Russia used the Oresnik hypersonic missile in Ukraine for the first time in Sunday’s attack.
- The US described Russia’s deployment of the Oresnik missile as a dangerous and barbaric escalation of the conflict.
- The United Nations has expressed serious concern over the planned strikes on Kyiv.
US Deputy Ambassador Tammy Bruce condemned Russia’s use of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile and called on Moscow to abandon its promised systematic strikes on Kiev. The Russian ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia, rejected this appeal and again urged foreign diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital. wrote the Reuters agency.
The council meeting was called by Ukraine in response to Russia’s combined attack overnight Sunday, during which hundreds of drones and missiles were sent to Kiev and its surroundings. At that time, Russia also launched an Oresnik ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads at the city of Bila Cerkva.
Bruce described the deployment of the Oresnik missile as an “inexplicable, dangerous and barbaric escalation” of the war that broke out after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. At the same time, Russia warned against “carrying out so-called systematic attacks on Kyiv, which may cause further civilian casualties and threaten the prospects for peace.”
According to Reuters, the American diplomat’s statements are among the sharpest criticisms of Russia by the administration of US President Donald Trump, which generally has a more welcoming attitude towards Russia than most US allies. Bruec did not say how the United States would react if Moscow carried out new attacks.
Sunday’s bombing, which left at least two civilians dead and around 100 injured, was in retaliation for a Ukrainian attack on a school dormitory in the city of Starobilsk in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region, according to Moscow.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday that in retaliation it is preparing new strikes aimed at decision-making centers, command posts and other objects of the military-industrial complex in Kyiv. At the same time, it urged foreigners and diplomats to leave the city as soon as possible.
At the UN Security Council meeting, Nebenzia repeated Russia’s claims that its forces targeted Ukrainian military and intelligence facilities on Sunday and that it was preparing to strike “decision-making centers and command posts”.
“Since the aforementioned facilities are scattered throughout Kyiv, we have warned foreign citizens, including employees of diplomatic missions and offices of international organizations, to leave the city as soon as possible,” reminded the Russian representative.
The United Nations, through the Deputy Secretary General, also expressed serious concern over the promised systematic strikes on Kyiv, Reuters added.
