Russia claims use of new Oreshnik ballistic missile in large-scale Ukraine attack

Russia said on Friday it used its new Oreshnik ballistic missile as part of a large overnight attack on Ukraine, one of the most extensive strikes in recent months, as Kyiv reported multiple civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure.

Ukrainian authorities said four people were killed and at least 22 others wounded in Kyiv during the overnight assault, which involved hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. Russia did not disclose the specific target of the Oreshnik missile, but Russian state media and military bloggers claimed it was aimed at a major underground natural gas storage facility in Ukraine’s western Lviv region.

Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 242 drones and 36 missiles, including one medium-range ballistic missile. While Kyiv did not confirm the missile’s type, it said the ballistic missile was launched from the Kapustin Yar test site in Russia’s Astrakhan region, which is believed to host the Oreshnik system.

Claims of retaliation and rising diplomatic tension

Russia’s Defence Ministry said the attack was carried out in retaliation for what it described as a Ukrainian drone strike on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence last month. Ukrainian officials have denied the claim, and U.S. President Donald Trump has also rejected Moscow’s assertion that such an attack took place.

The strike comes at a sensitive moment in relations between Moscow and Washington. Russia this week condemned the U.S. seizure of a Russian-linked oil tanker in the North Atlantic, while Trump has signaled support for a sweeping new sanctions package intended to further restrict Russia’s economy.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv would pursue an international response to the reported use of the Oreshnik missile, including calling an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council and convening the Ukraine–NATO Council.

“Such a strike close to the EU and NATO border is a grave threat to the security on the European continent and a test for the transatlantic community,” Sybiha said in a statement posted on X. “We demand strong responses to Russia’s reckless actions.”

Impact near western borders

In western Ukraine, Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi said Russia struck critical infrastructure with a ballistic missile but provided no further details. He said the missile’s speed was estimated at around 13,000 kilometres per hour and that investigators were still determining its exact type.

Lviv lies close to Poland, a NATO member, and has been a key logistical hub for Ukrainian energy storage and transport networks. Ukrainian officials did not immediately confirm damage to gas facilities in the region.

The Oreshnik missile

Russia first publicly tested the Oreshnik missile — named after the Russian word for a hazelnut tree — in November 2024, when it was used in a strike on a Ukrainian industrial facility. President Putin has described the missile as carrying multiple warheads that descend at speeds of up to Mach 10 and has claimed it cannot be intercepted by existing air defence systems.

Putin has also said the missile can be equipped with nuclear warheads, though Russian officials have framed its recent use as part of a conventional strike. He has warned Western countries that Moscow could deploy the Oreshnik against nations supporting Ukraine if they allow Kyiv to use longer-range weapons to strike inside Russia.

Civilian toll in Kyiv

In Kyiv, officials said several districts were hit by drones and missile debris. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said one of those killed was an emergency medical worker responding to the attacks. Five rescue workers were injured while attending strike sites, according to Ukraine’s security service.

In the Desnianskyi district, a drone crashed onto the roof of a multi-storey residential building, while another nearby address suffered damage to the lower floors of an apartment block. In the Dnipro district, drone fragments struck a high-rise building, sparking a fire.

Residents described chaotic scenes as explosions echoed across the city. Dmytro Karpenko, 45, said his windows were blown out by the blast. When he saw his neighbour’s house on fire, he rushed outside to help.

“What Russia is doing shows that they do not want peace,” he said. “People really want peace. People are suffering, people are dying.”

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the attacks disrupted electricity and running water in parts of the capital as emergency crews worked to restore services.

Broader military context

The overnight strike came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of Russia’s preparations for a large-scale offensive. He said Moscow appeared intent on exploiting severe winter conditions in Kyiv, where icy roads and streets have complicated civilian movement and emergency responses.

Russia has intensified long-range strikes on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure over recent weeks, using a mix of drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. Ukraine continues to rely on air defence systems supplied by Western allies, though officials have warned that intercepting large, combined attacks remains a challenge.

As Kyiv presses for stronger international action, the reported use of a new ballistic missile system adds a fresh dimension to the conflict, heightening concerns among Ukraine’s allies about escalation and regional security.