Oreshnik ballistic missile attacks marked a sharp escalation in Russia’s war on Ukraine after Moscow confirmed it launched the advanced weapon during overnight strikes. The attack occurred late Thursday into Friday as freezing temperatures gripped Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure came under renewed pressure.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said the strike formed part of a “massive” assault using high-precision land- and sea-based weapons. Officials confirmed the deployment of the Oreshnik mobile medium-range missile system, one of Russia’s newest and fastest weapons.
The Oreshnik ballistic missile, named after the hazelnut tree, can travel at nearly 10 times the speed of sound and has a range capable of reaching across Europe. Russian officials say the missile can carry multiple warheads and be fitted with either conventional or nuclear payloads. Moscow first used the system in combat in November 2024 during a strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.
Ukrainian authorities reported explosions and a ballistic missile impact on critical infrastructure in the western city of Lviv. The Ukrainian Air Force said the missile traveled at roughly 13,000 kilometers per hour along a ballistic trajectory, with final identification pending debris analysis.
In Kyiv, the attack began shortly after midnight with waves of drone strikes hitting residential areas. Power outages followed as streetlights flickered out across large parts of the capital. Dense fog and subzero temperatures worsened conditions for residents overnight.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said four people were killed and 10 others wounded, adding that critical infrastructure sustained damage. In Lviv, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said there were no immediate reports of casualties and no damage to civilian buildings.
Russia claimed the strike was retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian attempt to target President Vladimir Putin’s residence, a claim dismissed by US intelligence officials. The attack also came after Moscow warned that any European troops deployed to Ukraine under a future peace deal would be considered legitimate targets.
The Oreshnik ballistic missile strike followed a US seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic, an incident Moscow condemned as illegal. Tensions have risen further as Russia continues to bombard Ukraine’s energy network, leaving tens of thousands without electricity or heating during winter.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the strategy aims to spread fear and disrupt civilian life. Western embassies had warned of a potentially significant air attack in the days leading up to the strike, underscoring the growing intensity of the conflict.
