Russia has conducted a major overnight missile barrage against Ukraine, brazenly deploying its advanced, nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile in strikes that hit perilously close to the border of a NATO member state.
Details of the Overnight Assault
Ukrainian officials confirmed that the attack on the capital, Kyiv, resulted in four fatalities and at least 22 wounded. Among the dead was an emergency medical aid worker, according to Kyiv city military administration head Tymur Tkachenko. The assault caused significant damage across the city, with a drone crashing onto a multi-storey building in the Desnyanskyi district and residential buildings suffering severe structural damage.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the attacks disrupted running water and electricity in parts of the capital. Five rescue workers were injured while responding to the ongoing strikes, Ukraine's security service stated.
The Sinister Oreshnik Weapon
The strike notably involved Russia's formidable Oreshnik missile, a weapon first tested against a Ukrainian factory in November 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly boasted about its capabilities, claiming its multiple warheads can plunge at speeds of up to Mach 10 (approximately 8,000 miles per hour) and are impossible to intercept.
Putin has warned that several Oreshnik missiles used in a conventional strike could be as devastating as a nuclear attack. The missile is also designed to carry nuclear warheads. The Russian leader has previously threatened to use the Oreshnik against allies of Kyiv that permit Ukrainian strikes inside Russia using longer-range weaponry.
Strike on Critical Infrastructure and Russian Claims
While Russian officials did not comment on specific targets, military bloggers and media within Russia claimed some missiles were aimed at a huge underground natural gas storage facility in the Lviv region, which borders NATO member Poland. Lviv mayor Andriy Sadoviy confirmed Russia struck critical infrastructure with a ballistic missile travelling at over 8,000 mph, though he did not give further details.
Russia's Defence Ministry framed the large-scale attack as retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on President Vladimir Putin's residence last month. Both Ukraine and US President Donald Trump have firmly rejected these Russian claims.
The bombardment occurred just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the nation of Russia's intentions to launch a large-scale offensive, aiming to capitalise on perilously icy conditions in the capital caused by freezing weather.
