Russia’s Hypersonic Oreshnik Missile Strikes Ukraine Amid Escalating Tensions

Russia has carried out a rare launch of its advanced hypersonic Oreshnik intermediate‑range ballistic missile (IRBM) during a large‑scale overnight assault on Ukraine, marking only the second confirmed use of the weapon in the nearly four‑year‑old war. The strike formed part of a wider barrage involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, hitting multiple regions including Kyiv and the western city of Lviv.

🇷🇺 What Russia Says Happened

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the Oreshnik missile was deployed in retaliation for what Moscow claims was a Ukrainian drone strike on one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences—an allegation dismissed by Ukraine, the United States, and President Donald Trump as unsubstantiated.

Russian officials said the missile targeted critical infrastructure, including energy facilities and industrial sites linked to drone production.

🇺🇦 What Ukraine Reports

Ukrainian authorities confirmed that the missile struck the Lviv region, likely carrying an inert or “dummy” warhead, similar to its first use in 2024.
Key impacts included:

• Damage to critical infrastructure near Lviv, with craters found in forested areas near a state enterprise
• At least four deaths and more than 20 injuries in Kyiv from accompanying drone and missile strikes, including the death of an emergency medical worker
• Widespread power outages, leaving more than half a million homes without electricity amid freezing temperatures
• Damage to the Embassy of Qatar in Kyiv, though no casualties were reported

Ukraine’s security service (SBU) is treating the Oreshnik strike as a war crime, citing its proximity to the EU border and its impact on civilian infrastructure.

⚙️ About the Oreshnik Missile

• Type: Intermediate‑range ballistic missile (IRBM)
• Speed: Reported at Mach 10–11 (up to ~13,000 km/h)
• Range: Estimated up to 5,500 km, placing much of Europe within reach
• Capabilities: Can carry nuclear or conventional payloads; designed to evade interception

Defence analysts note that while Russia promotes the missile as cutting‑edge, some experts believe it may be a modified version of the RS‑26 Rubezh system.

🌍 International Reaction

European governments and NATO‑aligned analysts condemned the strike as escalatory, warning that the missile’s range and speed pose a growing threat to European security.

Germany called the launch a “symbolic gesture of intimidation, noting that Russia’s justification has been widely refuted.

Ukraine’s allies, including the UK and France, reiterated commitments to strengthening Kyiv’s air‑defence capabilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged a “clear response” from the international community, particularly the United States.

🔎 Strategic Significance

The timing of the strike is notable:

• It follows weeks of diplomatic activity between the US and European partners over potential peace frameworks.
• It comes amid new tensions between Moscow and Washington, including the US seizure of a Russian‑flagged oil tanker.
• It coincides with Russia’s recent lowering of its nuclear‑response threshold, raising concerns among defence analysts.

Experts say the launch was likely intended as a signal to NATO, demonstrating Russia’s long‑range strike capabilities and willingness to escalate during diplomatic negotiations.

📝 Summary

Russia’s rare use of the hypersonic Oreshnik missile marks a significant escalation in its campaign against Ukraine. While the physical damage from the missile itself appears limited, its deployment carries major strategic and symbolic weight, underscoring heightened tensions between Russia, Ukraine, and NATO countries.