By: The Trek News Desk
Russia has carried out a new wave of air strikes on Ukraine, deploying the rarely used ‘Oreshnik’ ballistic missile in what officials describe as a major escalation. The overnight attack on Thursday left at least four people dead in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, while more than 25 others sustained injuries. Residents reported hearing continuous explosions for hours as the night sky was lit up by blasts.
This marks only the second known use of the Oreshnik missile by Russia. The weapon was previously launched in November 2024 during an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed the latest strike was retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence in late December. Ukrainian authorities have firmly denied carrying out any such operation.
Although Moscow did not specify the exact target of the Oreshnik missile, videos shared on social media shortly before midnight showed multiple explosions near the outskirts of Lviv, a western Ukrainian city located around 60 kilometres from the Polish border. President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian officials later confirmed that key infrastructure in Lviv had been hit by a ballistic missile.
The Oreshnik is believed to be a medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile with a potential range of up to 5,500 kilometres. Military experts say its warhead is designed to fragment during its final descent, releasing several projectiles that cause a series of rapid explosions.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned that launching such a missile close to the European Union and NATO borders poses a serious threat to continental security and tests the resolve of Western allies. He dismissed Russia’s justification for the attack, describing it as a reaction driven by unfounded claims.
The European Union has already expressed doubts over Russia’s allegations of a drone strike, while US President Donald Trump has also said he does not believe such an attack took place.
Zelensky stated that in addition to the Oreshnik missile, Russia fired 13 ballistic missiles, 22 cruise missiles and 242 drones overnight, targeting energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. One of the strikes reportedly damaged a building at the Qatari Embassy.
Among those killed in Kyiv was a paramedic who arrived at the scene to assist victims in a damaged apartment building. Ukrainian officials said the incident involved a “double-tap” strike, where a second attack followed shortly after the first, deliberately targeting rescuers.
Several neighbourhoods in Kyiv were left without electricity during one of the harshest winter periods, as temperatures are expected to plunge to minus 15 degrees Celsius over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Ukraine also launched retaliatory strikes. In Russia’s Belgorod region, Ukrainian shelling reportedly left nearly half a million people without power. Separately, an attack on a power plant in the Russian city of Oryol disrupted water supply and heating services.
Source: News Agencies
