Ukraine Hit by Advanced Russian Oreshnik Missile

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Kyiv:Russia has carried out a significant strike on Ukraine using one of its most advanced ballistic weapons, the Oreshnik intermediate-range missile, in a major escalation of the ongoing conflict. The Russian military said it launched the hypersonic Oreshnik missile as part of a large-scale overnight assault, targeting energy infrastructure and drone production facilities across Ukraine. Moscow claimed the attack was retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on President Vladimir Putin’s residence in late December, a claim rejected by Ukrainian officials.

The Oreshnik missile, capable of speeds exceeding Mach 10 and reportedly difficult to intercept, is among Russia’s newest weapons and can carry multiple warheads, including potentially nuclear-capable ones, though it was used with conventional payloads in this strike. Russian sources said the missile hit an underground natural gas storage facility in western Ukraine’s Lviv region, close to the Polish border, underscoring the broader geographic reach of the assault.

Ukrainian authorities reported that the wider barrage, which also included other missiles and drones, caused casualties in Kyiv, with at least four people killed and more than 20 injured. Residential areas were damaged, and utility services were disrupted as fires broke out following the strikes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned of a major Russian offensive ahead of the attack amid icy conditions that could exacerbate its impact.

International concern has grown over the use of the Oreshnik missile, which Western analysts say reflects an intensified phase of the war and raises questions about extended range and destructive capabilities. While Moscow maintains the weapon was deployed in a conventional role, its potential to carry nuclear warheads has drawn scrutiny, even as some analysts downplay its strategic impact compared with other battlefield systems.