Russia Deploys Advanced Oreshnik Missile in Large-Scale Attack on Ukraine, Kyiv Reports Casualties

Russia Unleashes Oreshnik Missile in Extensive Aerial Assault

On Friday, January 9, 2026, the Russian Federation conducted a large-scale aerial assault across Ukraine, deploying its advanced Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). This marks only the second confirmed use of the Oreshnik missile in the ongoing conflict. The overnight strikes, which included hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, resulted in at least four fatalities and 22 injuries in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Among the deceased was an emergency medical aid worker, while rescue personnel and a police officer were reported among the wounded. The attacks also caused significant damage to residential buildings and critical infrastructure in Kyiv, leading to power outages and disruptions to water and heating supplies. The Qatari Embassy in Kyiv was also damaged.

Beyond Kyiv, the western Lviv region was also targeted, with reports indicating damage to a critical infrastructure facility, potentially a large underground gas storage site.

The Oreshnik: Russia's 'Unstoppable' Hypersonic Weapon

The Oreshnik, meaning 'hazel tree' in Russian, is an intermediate-range ballistic missile characterized by its reported hypersonic speed, exceeding Mach 10 (approximately 12,000-13,600 km/h). Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously described the weapon as 'state-of-the-art' and 'impossible to intercept.' Experts note its difficulty in detection and interception due to its extreme speed and high-arc ballistic trajectory.

The missile is capable of carrying multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), reportedly equipped with six warheads, each potentially containing submunitions. While the Oreshnik is nuclear-capable, analysts widely believe that the missiles used in Ukraine have carried conventional warheads to avoid further escalation. The Oreshnik is believed to be derived from the RS-26 Rubezh ICBM, with its development ordered by Putin in July 2023 and entering production and service in August 2025.

Its first operational use was in November 2024 against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, where Ukrainian sources suggested it was equipped with dummy warheads, resulting in limited damage. The current attack on January 9, 2026, marks the first instance where the Oreshnik may have been used with full destructive intent.

International Condemnation and Ukrainian Calls for Action

Russia's Ministry of Defense stated that the extensive attack was a 'retaliation' for an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on President Vladimir Putin's residence last month. However, both Kyiv and Washington have dismissed this claim as false.

Ukrainian officials swiftly condemned the assault. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized that the use of an Oreshnik missile in proximity to the European Union and NATO borders poses a 'grave threat' to European security and serves as a 'test for the transatlantic community.' Ukraine has called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council and the Ukraine-NATO Council in response to the incident. The Ukrainian security service also released photographs reportedly showing fragments of an Oreshnik missile recovered in the Lviv region.

Internationally, leaders from Britain, France, and Germany described Russia's deployment of the Oreshnik as 'escalatory and unacceptable.' The attack comes amid ongoing U.S.-led peace efforts, which have yet to yield a resolution to the nearly four-year-old conflict.