On January 8, 2026, American negotiators delivered a "peace plan" to Russia that had been coordinated with Ukraine. The response came quickly: Russia struck the Lviv region with the "Oreshnik" missile. The purpose of this strike was primarily to demonstrate to Europeans that Russia can easily and quickly reach European capitals, as Ukraine currently lacks the means to intercept such missiles. While the United States possesses such capabilities, it is not rushing to share them with Ukraine.
Since this missile is a carrier of nuclear warheads, and no nuclear explosion or contamination occurred, it means the missile was launched without an explosive warhead — likely equipped with inert metal or even concrete dummies. The arrival of a missile with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) looks terrifying, but it is incapable of causing significant destructive damage. The Lviv Regional Military Administration reported no casualties from this strike.
Video of the "Oreshnik" ballistic missile with separated warheads impacting the Lviv region on January 9, 2026
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video.
The stated goal of this strike is to show Europeans — first and foremost — that Russia can effortlessly reach European capitals, given that Ukraine has no means to shoot down such missiles. Russia justified the use of the "Oreshnik" as retaliation for an alleged "attack on Putin's residence." In reality, no such attack took place, as confirmed even by U.S. President Donald Trump, who is trying to maintain good relations with Putin.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated: "The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have delivered a massive strike with high-precision long-range weapons of ground and sea-based origin, including the mobile ground-based missile system..."
Ukraine's Air Force at 00:41 on January 9 reported a threat of a ballistic missile launch from the Kapustin Yar test site. The "West" Air Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed that the enemy carried out a missile strike on infrastructure facilities in Lviv using a ballistic missile.
Incidentally, the terrifying speed of the "Oreshnik" missile — 13,000 km/h — as reported by the command, is not constant. As military analyst Oleksiy Hetman noted, such speed is only possible when the missile ascends into near space. When it descended directly onto the Lviv region, its speed was significantly lower.
Zelensky Calls on the World for a Clear Response to Russian Attacks
President of Ukraine noted that overnight on January 9, in addition to 242 drones, Russia launched 22 cruise missiles, 13 ballistic missiles, and one intermediate-range ballistic missile — the "Oreshnik" — targeting energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. "The attack came precisely when significant cold weather has set in. Precisely against the ordinary lives of ordinary people", — Zelensky emphasized.
He stated that a clear reaction from the world is needed — primarily from the United States, whose signals Russia truly respects:
"Russia must receive signals that its duty is to focus on diplomacy and feel consequences every time it shifts back to killings and destruction of infrastructure. Today's strike also loudly reminds all our partners that providing air defense support to Ukraine is a constant priority."
Ukraine Convenes Emergency UN Meeting After "Oreshnik" Attack
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced that Ukraine is initiating international actions — an emergency UN Security Council meeting, a Ukraine-NATO Council session, as well as responses within the EU, Council of Europe, and OSCE frameworks.
He stressed that this strike is not revenge for a fake "attack on the residence," but a signal and a real threat to the EU and NATO.
Andriy Sybiha called on the EU and the United States to take decisive steps in response to Putin's reckless attacks.
"Putin is using an intermediate-range ballistic missile near the EU and NATO borders in response to his own hallucinations — this is truly a global threat. And it demands a global response. More decisive steps are needed against the Russian tanker fleet — and the United States is right to take measures here — as well as against Russia's oil revenues, schemes, and assets. Not just in the EU, but worldwide," said Ukraine's Foreign Minister.
What is the "Oreshnik" with Which Russia is Intimidating?
The "Oreshnik" is a presumed Russian intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), which, according to Ukrainian military data, can reach speeds exceeding 12,300 km/h.
It was developed based on the RS-26 "Rubezh" intermediate-range missile, which underwent five test launches but was never adopted into service. According to experts, one booster stage was likely removed from the RS-26 design in the "Oreshnik," reducing its range. The missile is equipped with six warheads, each reportedly containing submunitions.
The combat payload of the "Oreshnik" with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV) distinguishes it from other nuclear-capable missiles used against Ukraine, making it particularly difficult to intercept with Ukraine's existing air defense systems.
The missile travels in the upper atmosphere layers, remaining out of reach for Ukrainian air defense systems, making interception impossible with current Ukrainian capabilities. Modern interceptors such as Israel's Arrow 3 or the U.S. SM-3 Block 2A are specifically designed to counter such threats, but Ukraine does not have them in service.
Experts note that the accuracy of the "Oreshnik," demonstrated during the previous strike on Dnipro, is sufficient for delivering a nuclear warhead but insufficient for conventional munitions.
Read also
Business during the war: from a plastic surgery clinic to a hospital for the military
