Europe, January 10 2026 – Russia has dramatically escalated its war with Ukraine by firing its Oreshnik hypersonic missile at a target near the European Union and NATO border, marking only the second known use of the advanced weapon since its debut in 2024.
The overnight attack, part of a widespread barrage that included dozens of drones and missiles, has deepened fears of regional escalation, struck critical infrastructure, and left Ukrainian civilians to grapple with extreme winter conditions and widespread outages.
Moscow confirmed it fired an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile at a target in western Ukraine’s Lviv region, around 60 km from the Polish border, in what Russian officials described as retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence, a claim Kyiv and Washington have dismissed.
The Oreshnik, named after the Russian word for “hazel tree” and developed from the RS-26 Rubezh system, can travel at speeds exceeding Mach 10 and carry multiple independently targetable warheads. Although there is no indication the missile in this attack carried nuclear components, its sheer speed and range underline Moscow’s intent to signal power to both Ukraine and Western capitals.
Russia’s Defence Ministry called its strike successful, claiming it hit a factory producing drones and energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials, however, described the justification as false and part of a broader attempt to undermine peace talks and intimidate European allies.
Massive Overnight Assault Worsens Civilian Suffering
The hypersonic missile launch was only part of an extensive overnight bombardment involving 242 drones and 36 conventional missiles, according to Ukrainian authorities. The offensive killed at least four people in Kyiv, injured over 20, and damaged buildings, including housing and possibly a diplomatic mission.
It knocked out electricity for more than half a million homes and cut water and heat in the middle of a harsh winter with temperatures around -10 °C (14 °F). In Kyiv, residents described shattered windows, freezing apartments and the struggle to stay warm after strikes ripped open high-rise buildings and left heating systems crippled.
One resident said there was “no water, no power, there’s nothing,” as emergency crews worked to restore services.
Symbolic Message to the West and Ukraine’s Allies