On the night of January 9-10, 2026, Russia launched an Oreshnik hypersonic missile 🚀 at an infrastructure facility in Ukraine's Lviv region, just 70 kilometers from the border with NATO member Poland. The strike marks only the second known combat use of this intermediate-range ballistic missile, which Moscow claims is impossible to intercept.
Kremlin spokespeople say the attack was retaliation for an alleged drone strike on President Vladimir Putin's residence last month—an incident Ukraine denies and the United States says didn't occur. European allies in Kyiv called the strike a clear attempt to intimidate and deter continued support for Ukraine.
Analysts suggest the timing wasn't random: by hitting so close to the EU and NATO frontier, Russia aimed to send a warning as European states ramp up their air-defense capabilities. "This is about more than Ukraine," says one security expert. "It underlines Europe's vulnerability at a critical moment in defense talks." 🛡️
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his nightly video address, urged neighboring capitals to take medium-range ballistic threats seriously. "This weapon challenges Warsaw, Bucharest, Budapest and many more," he said. "Every capital must respond with the same urgency."
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy signed a decree reshuffling the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters, adding Deputy Defense Minister Serhiy Boiev, Defense Intelligence Chief Oleh Ivashchenko and Kyrylo Budanov to the strategic command team. The move follows concerns about coordinating defense under martial law.
Despite mounting tensions, efforts toward a ceasefire continue. On January 9, the UK announced £200 million in preparations to deploy British troops as part of a "multinational" force once fighting stops. Britain, France and Ukraine also inked a declaration of intent for post-ceasefire deployments—a plan Moscow firmly rejects. 🤝
As the dust settles in Lviv, Europe watches closely. With negotiations looming, the Oreshnik strike serves as a stark reminder: the conflict's future will be shaped not just on Ukrainian soil, but in the corridors of power across the continent.
Reference(s):
Russia launches Oreshnik missile at Ukraine target near NATO border
cgtn.com
