Russia Strikes Kyiv with Cluster-Warhead Ballistic Missile

Russian forces launched an overnight ballistic missile attack on Kyiv on August 5, using Iskander missiles, including at least one equipped with a cluster warhead.

Videos published by the Real Kyiv Telegram channel and the pro-Russian Voyennyy Osvedomitel channel appear to show the strike.

The footage shows numerous submunitions detonating almost simultaneously after the missile impact, a pattern consistent with the deployment of a cluster warhead.

This pattern of impact is characteristic of cluster warheads, which disperse dozens of submunitions over the target after detonation.

These submunitions are designed to engage personnel as well as lightly armored and unarmored vehicles across a designated area.

The use of Iskander missiles equipped with such warheads in strikes on Ukrainian cities is intended to kill or injure large numbers of civilians.

Because the submunitions are scattered over a wide area, they can cause indiscriminate harm to anyone and anything within the impact zone.

Russian forces launched the ballistic missile attack on Kyiv shortly after midnight.

According to the Kyiv City Military Administration, the strike sparked large fires across the capital. Preliminary reports say one person was killed and at least 24 others were injured.