Vladimir Putin has boldly deployed the Oreshnik missile, capable of reaching speeds of 8,000mph and carrying nuclear capabilities, in an attack on Ukraine, with one missile striking dangerously close to a NATO member.
During the overnight assault on Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities reported four fatalities and at least 22 injuries. While Russian officials remained silent on the missile’s exact impact location, local military sources and media indicated that some missiles targeted a significant underground natural gas storage facility near the Lviv region bordering Poland.
The Russian Defense Ministry justified the attack as retaliation for what they claimed was a Ukrainian drone strike on President Putin’s residence. However, both Ukraine and US President Donald Trump have refuted this allegation.
Mayor Andriy Sadoviy of Lviv confirmed that Russia targeted critical infrastructure with a ballistic missile but did not provide specific details. He mentioned that the missile’s speed exceeded 8,000 miles per hour, and further investigation was underway to determine the rocket’s exact type.
The Oreshnik missile, initially tested by Russia in November 2024 against a Ukrainian factory, boasts multiple warheads that descend at speeds up to Mach 10, making interception challenging. Putin has highlighted the devastating potential of multiple Oreshnik missiles in a conventional strike, equating their impact to a nuclear assault. Additionally, the Oreshnik missile has the capacity to carry nuclear payloads.
In response to the strike on Kyiv, which claimed the life of an emergency medical worker, the Russian leader has warned that the Oreshnik could be used against allies of Ukraine that permit longer-range missile strikes into Russia. The aftermath of the attack included injuries to five rescue workers and property damage in various districts of Kyiv.
Following the assault, which caused disruptions in water and electricity supply in parts of the capital, Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the damages. The attack coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s warning of Russia’s planned large-scale offensive, taking advantage of the freezing weather conditions in Kyiv to create hazardous road conditions.
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