Russia hits Ukraine with Oreshnik hypersonic missile: Why it matters

Al JazeeraCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete by Sarah ShamimJanuary 10, 2026 at 01:49 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

On January 10, 2026, Russia confirmed it struck Ukraine with an Oreshnik hypersonic missile, impacting the city of Lviv, near the Polish border. The attack occurred amid broader strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and drone manufacturing sites, reportedly in response to an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on President Putin's residence in December 2025, a claim denied by Ukraine and the US. The Oreshnik, a nuclear-capable, intermediate-range ballistic missile, travels at speeds exceeding Mach 5 and is difficult to intercept. The missile strike in Lviv, approximately 70km from Poland, killed four and injured at least 22 in Kyiv. Some experts believe the attack was intended to intimidate Ukraine's Western allies.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Andriy Sadovyi 35% Donald Trump 40% United States 40% NATO 50% Vladimir Putin ×260% Moscow ×260% Lviv ×360% Poland ×370% Kyiv ×475% Oreshnik ×985% Ukraine ×890% Russia ×690%

Keywords

hypersonic missile 100% oreshnik missile 90% russia 80% ukraine 80% ballistic missile 70% military attack 60% energy infrastructure 50% lviv 50% nato 40%