Russian Missile Attack on Kyiv Captured from Space
Rare footage from the International Space Station (ISS) has captured a large-scale Russian missile attack on Kyiv, Ukraine. The dramatic images, recorded on the night of December 26-27, 2025, offer a unique perspective on the ongoing conflict.
Rare Orbital View of Combat Operations
An astronaut aboard the ISS filmed bright flashes illuminating the Ukrainian capital as Russia launched a significant assault involving Kh-101 cruise missiles and Iskander ballistic missiles India Today. The footage appears to document both incoming strikes and the fiery bursts of Ukrainian air defense systems intercepting targets in the sky.
Riccardo Rossi, a space and astronautics enthusiast, analyzed the orbital video and highlighted the unusual nature of the lights. “Until now, I hadn’t detected anything like that, but in this case, around Kyiv, flashes and lights can be seen that do not seem to be related to natural phenomena like lightning or meteors,” Rossi said India Today.
Documenting active combat operations from the ISS is considered highly unusual Militarnyi, making the footage particularly rare.
Details of the Attack
According to official Ukrainian data, Russia launched a massive attack on the night of December 26-27, utilizing 10 Iskander-M and Kinzhal ballistic missiles, along with 30 cruise missiles, including Kh-101, Iskander-K and Kh-22 systems Dagens. The video shows repeated flashes across the skyline, corresponding to air defense activity and mid-air detonations.
Significance of the Footage
Military footage of the war typically comes from ground cameras, drones, or aircraft. Images recorded from the ISS are rare due to the station’s scientific mission and technical constraints Dagens. The orbital view provides a broader picture of how strikes unfold over an urban area, allowing observers to see the scale and distribution of anti-aircraft fire across the city in a single frame.
The footage was also shared by the YouTube channel AstronautiCAST The Express.