Russia hits Ukraine with Oreshnik hypersonic missile: Why it matters

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.

In January 2026, Russia launched an Oreshnik missile, a nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic weapon, at western Ukraine, marking its second known use. Russia claimed the strike targeted drone-making and energy infrastructure, with no reported casualties. The Oreshnik, promoted by Putin as a display of Russian technological advancement, is believed by the Pentagon to be a modified version of the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile carries multiple warheads that separate in flight. Its first use was in November 2024, targeting a military facility in Dnipro, Ukraine, in response to Ukraine's use of Western weapons. This latest strike, near the Polish border, serves as a reminder of Russia's missile range amid heightened tensions over Ukraine peace talks.

Russia claimed to have launched its hypersonic Oreshnik missile at a target in western Ukraine near the EU border during a large overnight attack. The strike, according to Moscow, was retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on Putin's residence, a claim Kyiv and Washington deny. Ukraine condemned the missile launch as a grave threat to European security and called for increased pressure on Russia. While the governor of Lviv reported damage to critical infrastructure, reports suggest the Oreshnik may have carried inert warheads, indicating a symbolic gesture. Russia first used the Oreshnik in November 2024, and Putin has repeatedly threatened its use against countries supplying weapons to Ukraine. The overnight strikes also targeted Kyiv, resulting in at least one fatality.

Russia claimed it used its new hypersonic Oreshnik missile in a recent large-scale attack against Ukraine, allegedly in response to a Ukrainian drone strike attempt on Putin's residence, which Ukraine denies. The Russian Defense Ministry stated the attack targeted critical infrastructure in Ukraine using drones, the Oreshnik missile, and other high-precision weapons. While the specific target wasn't disclosed by Moscow, reports suggest it hit an underground natural gas storage facility in the Lviv region. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy reported damage to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure across multiple regions, including Lviv, and confirmed casualties, stating the attack involved numerous drones and missiles aimed at disrupting normal life during a cold spell. He reported that four people had been killed in the capital alone.

Russia launched a deadly missile strike on Ukraine Friday, killing at least four and injuring 22, according to Ukrainian authorities. The Russian Defense Ministry stated it used a new Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile in the attack, which they claimed was retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on Putin's residence last month. The attack occurred hours after President Zelenskyy warned of a large-scale Russian offensive, with several districts in Kyiv and the western city of Lviv being hit. The missile traveled at over 8,000 miles per hour, damaging residential buildings and disrupting utilities in Kyiv. Ukrainian officials reported injuries to rescue workers responding to the attacks, which also targeted critical infrastructure.

Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine, including the rarely-used Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile, resulting in at least four deaths and 25 injuries in Kyiv on Thursday night. The Oreshnik, previously deployed in Dnipro in November 2024, struck infrastructure in Lviv, near the Polish border. Russia claimed the strike was retaliation for a Ukrainian drone attack on Putin's residence in December, an allegation Kyiv denies. Ukrainian authorities reported that the overnight assault also involved numerous other missiles and drones targeting energy facilities and civilian infrastructure across the country, including Kyiv and Lviv. President Zelensky condemned the attacks as targeting ordinary citizens during a cold spell, while Ukrainian officials warned of the strike's implications for European security.