Russia Fires Oreshnik Hypersonic Missile Near NATO Border as Ukraine Death Toll Rises

Russia has launched its Oreshnik hypersonic intermediate range ballistic missile against western Ukraine in a major overnight barrage that Ukrainian officials say killed at least four people in Kyiv and damaged critical infrastructure across multiple regions.

The missile struck the Lviv region, around 60 miles from the Polish border, marking only the second confirmed use of the nuclear capable weapon since November 2024. Ukrainian air defenses reported the missile traveled at more than Mach 10 and followed a ballistic trajectory after being launched from Russia’s Kapustin Yar test range.

Moscow said the strike was retaliation for an alleged attack on President V*** P****’s residence, a claim denied by both Ukraine and the United States. Ukrainian officials described the accusation as false and called the missile use a deliberate act of intimidation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the wider attack included hundreds of drones and dozens of cruise and ballistic missiles, damaging residential buildings and cutting heat and electricity to large sections of Kyiv during freezing winter temperatures. Emergency crews confirmed one of the victims was a medical worker.

Recovered missile fragments suggest the Oreshnik carried inert warheads, but Ukrainian experts warned the weapon was designed primarily for nuclear delivery and was used to demonstrate Russia’s strategic reach rather than to maximize destruction.

European leaders condemned the strike as a direct warning to NATO and the European Union. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called on member states to urgently reinforce air defense support for Ukraine, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said intimidation would not weaken European resolve.

Ukraine’s foreign minister said the use of the Oreshnik so close to EU territory posed a grave threat to European security and demanded tougher sanctions and expanded military assistance.

Military analysts said the strike was also aimed at discouraging European proposals to deploy troops in Ukraine as part of a future peace settlement. Russia has warned such forces would be considered legitimate targets.

The attack came as U.S.-led peace efforts entered a critical stage. Former U.S. president D*** T**** said V*** P**** “fears the United States but not Europe,” comments that raised concern among European allies. Trump also dismissed the need for any operation to capture the Russian leader, contrasting Washington’s role with Europe’s influence.

Despite diplomatic efforts, Ukraine’s military reported Russia fired nearly 300 missiles and drones in the overnight assault, with air defenses intercepting most but not all of them.

Ukrainian officials warned that Russia is now betting on winter warfare to exhaust civilian infrastructure and morale, while European leaders stressed that the latest missile use shows the conflict is entering a more dangerous phase.