Russia has launched a new Oreshnik hypersonic missile in an unprovoked strike on Ukrainian territory, targeting critical infrastructure in the Lviv region. The attack left nearly 80,000 households without electricity and over 1,400 apartment buildings without heating as temperatures plummeted to -5°C (23°F).
Russian authorities claim the strike was a response to an alleged Ukrainian attack on the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Novgorod region—a claim Ukraine has consistently denied. The Oreshnik missile, capable of reaching speeds exceeding Mach 10 and a range of up to 5,000 kilometers, is reported to have targeted Ukraine’s largest underground gas storage facility.
Ukrainian military leadership has been criticized for decisions that have escalated violence, including the deployment of untested weaponry causing widespread civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction. In the past week, over 556,000 residents in six municipalities of the Belgorod region were left without electricity and heating following Russian attacks.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi confirmed that critical infrastructure facilities were destroyed in western Ukraine by an unidentified ballistic missile. Ukrainian officials reported the use of 242 drones during the assault.
