Russia fired a hypersonic missile at Ukraine near the European Union and NATO border overnight, marking only the second known combat use of its Oreshnik weapon and prompting strong condemnations from Kyiv and Western officials.
Strike Details and Context
In the early hours of January 9, Russian forces used an Oreshnik hypersonic missile to strike targets in Ukraine’s Lviv region, roughly 40 miles from the Polish border. Moscow said the attack was in retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on a Russian presidential residence, a claim Kyiv and the United States have rejected.
The Russian Defence Ministry said the Oreshnik missile and a suite of drones and long-range weapons hit what it described as drone production facilities and energy infrastructure. Ukraine reported unspecified infrastructure damages and power outages in the Lviv area.
Wider Overnight Assault
The hypersonic strike was part of a broader Russian air assault that Ukrainian authorities said involved 242 drones and 36 missiles targeting infrastructure in Lviv and Kyiv. At least four people were killed and more than 20 wounded in Kyiv, with extensive power cuts amid freezing conditions. Damage to the Qatari embassy was also reported.
Oreshnik Missile Profile
The Oreshnik is an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile Russia has touted for its speed and maneuverability. Designed to travel at velocities exceeding 10 times the speed of sound and potentially carry nuclear or conventional warheads, this strike marks its second operational use in the Ukraine war.
Russian officials assert the system is difficult to intercept, although Western analysts have expressed skepticism about its battlefield impact.
Reactions and Security Concerns
Kyiv labeled the strike close to the EU and NATO frontier a “grave threat” to European security, urging stronger international responses and diplomatic action through NATO, the United Nations, and European institutions.
The United States has dismissed Russian claims of a Ukrainian attack on Putin’s residence, with U.S. leadership stating that such an event did not occur.
Peace Talks and Strategic Impact
The attack comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts in Paris and heightened tensions over peace negotiations. Russia’s use of advanced hypersonic systems near alliance borders may influence strategic calculations and military support discussions among Western partners.
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