Putin launches record number of hypersonic missiles on Ukraine targets

Russia has launched a huge attack on Ukraine this morning as a record number of hypersonic missiles were fired simultaneously.

Strikes hit the capital of Kyiv as well as other cities as Putin continued to seek revenge for Ukrainian strikes on Belgorod on New Year’s Eve.

Russia has already rung in the new year with brutal missile attacks on three Ukrainian cities on Monday – and today’s strikes saw 11 hypersonic Kinzhal, or Dagger, missiles launched simultaneously.

Today’s onslaught was one of the heaviest of the entire war as a total of 110 missiles of different types were unleashed upon Ukraine, with more thought to be on the way.

The incoming Russian missiles ‘changed direction’, flying in a zig-zagging movement to try and confuse Kyiv’s air defences.

Explosions and fires were reported in the capital, including damage to high-rise residential blocks, warehouses, a supermarket, a Tesla car dealership, and an electricity station.

Fires raged in Kyiv after the city was targeted by missile attacks (Picture: AP)

Residential buildings were damaged (Picture: e2w)

Smoke rose into the sky following the missile attacks (Picture: e2w)

There were a number of explosions and fires (Picture: e2w)

Phone coverage and power supply was also hit in the city, and it was initially unclear what – if any – military targets had been hit.

In Solomensky district, a fire started in a residential block with at least 16 wounded, 12 of them hospitalised.

In Kharkiv at least one person was killed and 22 wounded, with 16 hospitalised.

A day earlier Putin said he was ‘boiling’ over the attacks on Belgorod – and vowed a response.

He told wounded Russian troops: ‘What happened in Belgorod was, of course, a terrorist act.

‘Because under the cover of two missiles they fired from multiple launch rocket systems and MLRS. As military people, you know what MLRS are.

‘This weapon is indiscriminate and hits [large] areas. With these weapons they struck the city centre. Just a targeted attack on the civilian population.

‘We will increase our strikes. Not a single crime against the civilian population will go unpunished.’

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Strikes hit the capital of Kyiv as well as other cities as Putin continued to seek revenge for Ukrainian strikes on Belgorod on New Year’s Eve.