Russia's strike on Kyiv is Putin's attempt to erase the humiliation after the May 9 parade - ISW
Kyiv • UNN
Russia attacked Kyiv with 90 missiles and 600 drones, using the Oreshnik. ISW explains this as Putin's attempt to erase the humiliation after the May 9 parade.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated that Russia's massive strike on Kyiv is part of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's attempt to "erase the humiliation" following criticism of the May 9 parade in Moscow. This is stated in the ISW report, UNN reports.
Analysts emphasize that Russia launched one of the largest combined strikes on Ukraine in 2026 on the night of May 24.
Russia's strike on Kyiv is part of Russian President Vladimir Putin's ongoing efforts to erase the humiliation following the Victory Day parade, as Putin attempts to demonstrate strength after his widely criticized parade
According to ISW, Russian forces fired 90 missiles at Ukraine, including 36 ballistic missiles, as well as 600 drones. The main target of the attack was Kyiv.
"Oreshnik" strike and destruction in Kyiv
ISW noted that Russia used the "Oreshnik" intermediate-range ballistic missile against Kyiv for the first time. Previously, such missiles were used for strikes on Dnipro and Lviv.
Ukrainian authorities reported damage to the buildings of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet of Ministers, the National Art Museum, as well as the destruction of the Chernobyl Museum and the Lukyanivskyi Market.
Analysts recalled that the Kremlin had previously threatened strikes on "decision-making centers" in Kyiv in the event of Ukrainian attacks on the May 9 parade in Moscow, although Ukraine did not do so.
"The Russian strike completely violates the spirit of the three-day Victory Day 'truce' that Ukraine observed, and demonstrates Putin's unwillingness to fulfill any agreements that are not beneficial to him," ISW emphasized.
Russia criticizes strikes on Kyiv
At the same time, Russian pro-war bloggers criticized the massive strike, calling it expensive and ineffective from a military perspective.
According to ISW, some Russian bloggers believe that the Russian command is mistakenly wasting resources on expensive missile strikes while Russian troops face problems at the front and a shortage of FPV drones.
"The Russian military leadership may have struck Kyiv in a futile attempt to divert attention from battlefield failures and demonstrate strength to both domestic and international audiences," the analysts noted.