Russia has intensified its military campaign against Ukraine by deploying the new Oreshnik ballistic missile in a significant strike that took place overnight. Ukrainian officials reported that the attack resulted in the deaths of four individuals and left at least 22 others injured in the capital, Kyiv. The Russian military did not disclose specific details about the missile’s targets, but reports from Russian media and military bloggers indicated that it aimed at a large underground natural gas storage facility in Ukraine’s western Lviv region.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, this attack was a response to what it claimed was a Ukrainian drone strike on President Vladimir Putin’s residence in December 2024. Both Ukrainian authorities and US President Donald Trump have dismissed Russia’s assertion regarding the alleged drone attack. The Mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadoviy, confirmed that a ballistic missile struck critical infrastructure, noting that the Oreshnik can travel at speeds of 13,000 km/h. The exact type of missile involved is currently under investigation.
The Oreshnik missile, which translates to “hazelnut tree” in Russian, was first tested in November 2024 against a Ukrainian factory. President Putin has boasted about the missile’s capability, stating that its multiple warheads can descend at speeds up to Mach 10 and are effectively impossible to intercept. He further emphasized that a conventional strike using several Oreshnik missiles could cause destruction comparable to that of a nuclear attack. The missile is also capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
In the aftermath of the strike on Kyiv, four fatalities were confirmed, including an emergency medical aid worker, as reported by Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration. Five rescue personnel sustained injuries while responding to the ongoing crisis, according to Ukraine’s security service. Several districts in Kyiv experienced damage during the assault. In the Desnyanskyi district, a drone crashed onto the roof of a high-rise building, while another residential building sustained damage to its lower floors. Additionally, debris from a drone in the Dnipro district caused significant damage to a multistorey building and ignited a fire.
As a consequence of the missile strike, vital services such as running water and electricity were disrupted in various areas of Kyiv, as confirmed by Mayor Vitali Klitschko. This attack occurred shortly after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned the nation about impending Russian military actions, highlighting the potential for a large-scale offensive. He noted that Russia sought to exploit the freezing temperatures in Kyiv, which have made roads and streets particularly treacherous.
As the conflict continues to escalate, the international community remains watchful of the developments in Ukraine and the implications of Russia’s military capabilities.
