Russia uses hypersonic missile in intense strikes on Ukraine

Scale of the assault: missiles and drones

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Moscow fired 36 missiles and 242 drones overnight, with Ukrainian air defenses intercepting 226 drones and 18 missiles.

Hypersonic missile details

The Oreshnik missile, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 10 (over 12,000 km/h), hit strategic targets in Kyiv and Lviv regions. In Lviv, the missile targeted an infrastructure site near Poland, damaging a gas storage facility and cutting off supplies to hundreds of residents. Ukrainian authorities recovered fragments of the missile, including its guidance system and engine components.

Europe and Ukraine respond

Kyiv considers the strikes a serious threat to Europe and a test for the West. The European Union described the use of the hypersonic missile as a "clear escalation" directed at Brussels and Washington. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents to temporarily leave the city due to heating outages during a severe cold snap.

Russian claims and Ukrainian dismissal

Russian media claimed the strike was retaliation for a Ukrainian drone attack on Putin’s residence, which Ukrainian officials dismissed as false.

Regional impact in Russia

Power and heating were cut off for about 556,000 people in Russia’s Belgorod region, bordering Kharkiv, following the attacks.

Diplomatic context

The strikes occurred amid stalled diplomatic talks and Russia’s rejection of a European plan to deploy a multinational force to ensure Ukraine’s post-war security.