Ukrainian intelligence, citing data shared by US and European partners, has reported that Russia is preparing a combined strike against Ukraine. It may include the third operational use of the "Oreshnik" intermediate-range ballistic missile with Kyiv among the likely targets, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Kyiv has issued a security alert warning of a probable significant air attack within the next 24 hours.
Russia has used the Oreshnik against Ukraine twice. On 21 November 2024, the missile struck the city of Dnipro. On 9 January 2026, an Oreshnik struck infrastructure in Lviv Oblast as part of a much larger combined Russian attack that included 13 other ballistic missiles, 22 cruise missiles, and 242 drones.
"We are seeing signs of preparation for a combined strike on Ukrainian territory, including Kyiv, involving various types of weaponry. The specified intermediate-range weapons could be used in such a strike," Zelenskyy stated.
A third Oreshnik use today, if it occurs, would land alongside operational developments that have positioned Russian missile assets to shorten the warning time available to Ukraine's air defense.
What Zelenskyy said
Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to respond consciously to air-raid warnings from the evening of 23 May.
"Russian madness truly knows no bounds, so please protect your lives — use shelters," he said.
Ukraine is preparing its air defense "as much as possible" and will respond "fully" and "justly" to every Russian strike, he added, drawing a contrast in his remarks between the ongoing strike preparation and the celebration of Russia's Victory Day parade.
"We have given permission for a parade, but Russia has no permission for madness. This war must be ended — we need peace, not some missiles satisfying the sick ambitions of one individual," Zelenskyy added.
The Bastion deployment, and the shortened warning time
Russia has moved one Bastion coastal missile complex — comprising four launchers — to Kursk Oblast on Russia's border with Ukraine's Sumy and Chernihiv oblasts, the monitoring channel Yeradar reported.
The deployment opens the possibility of strikes on Ukrainian territory with Oniks and Tsirkon missiles from the northern direction, which would shorten the flight time of these missiles to Kyiv from two to three minutes to several seconds.
The monitoring channel reported drone launches have already been detected from the Millerovo, Kursk, and Bryansk areas. The Bastion repositioning lands in the same week Zelenskyy warned of Russian planning for an offensive on the Chernihiv-Kyiv axis or against a NATO member from Belarusian territory.
