In a bold move, Vladimir Putin deployed the powerful Oreshnik missile, capable of reaching speeds of 8,000mph and carrying nuclear warheads, in an attack on Ukraine, striking dangerously close to a NATO member. Ukrainian authorities reported four fatalities and at least 22 injuries in the assault on Kyiv, with suspicions that some missiles targeted a significant underground natural gas storage facility near the border with Poland.
Russia’s Defense Ministry justified the attack as a response to what they claimed was a Ukrainian drone strike on President Putin’s residence. However, both Ukraine and US President Donald Trump have refuted these allegations. Lviv’s mayor, Andriy Sadoviy, confirmed that critical infrastructure was hit by a ballistic missile but refrained from providing specific details, mentioning that the missile traveled at supersonic speeds exceeding 8,000 miles per hour.
The Oreshnik missile, first tested by Russia in a strike on a Ukrainian factory in November 2024, has been touted by Putin as virtually unstoppable, with the potential to cause devastation comparable to a nuclear attack due to its multiple warheads. Putin has also hinted at the possibility of using Oreshnik against Kyiv’s allies if they permit longer-range missile strikes on Russian territory.
Following the assault on Kyiv, casualties included an emergency medical worker, and five rescue workers sustained injuries while responding to the attack sites. The strikes caused damage to several buildings, including a fire in the Dnipro district and disruptions to essential services such as water and electricity in parts of the capital.
The attack occurred shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the nation about Russia’s plans for a large-scale offensive, taking advantage of the icy weather conditions in the capital to create hazardous road conditions.