Russia uses advanced hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile to strike Ukraine

Russia has hit Ukraine’s Lviv region with its intermediate-range ballistic missile Oreshnik. A separate missile and drone attack on Kyiv killed four people and injured 19, including paramedics who were hit in a double-tap strike as they assisted the injured.

In one of its largest barrages involving dozens of drones and missiles, Russia attacked Ukraine overnight on Friday with its Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic (IRBM) missile. Moscow used Oreshnik to target critical infrastructure in Lviv in western Ukraine, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said. Oreshnik, which in Russian means “hazelnut tree”, is one of Russia’s newest weapons, and one whose potential Moscow has been keen to promote.Its missiles can be equipped with nuclear payloads and are designed to hit targets at a far greater range.According to the Western Command of Ukraine's Air Force, the Oreshnik that targeted the western Ukrainian city travelled at a speed of 13,000 kilometres per hour.The first confirmed use of this missile was resisted when Russia used it to strike Dnipro in November 2024. Russia has previously confirmed that it used Oreshnik missiles to attack Ukraine.The Kremlin stated that the IRBM attack was “a response“ to Ukraine’s purported attempt to hit Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence last month – a claim that both Ukraine and the US denied. The CIA has assessed that Ukraine did not target Putin’s residence, according to US officials. US President Donald Trump also added to assertions that the attack did not take place. Double-tap attack on KyivAlso overnight into Friday, four people were killed and 19 injured in the capital Kyiv during a massive missile and drone attack by Russia.A paramedic was among those killed as a result of a double-tap strike, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.  "One paramedic died, and four were injured while assisting people in the Darnytskyi district," he said.Several neighbourhoods in Ukraine’s capital were affected, while residential buildings sustained damage from the attack, Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said. In Desnyanskyi district, a drone crashed onto the roof of a multi-story building. The first two floors of a residential building in the same district were also damaged in the attack.In Dnipro district, drone parts damaged a multi-story building and a fire broke out.Running water and electricity were disrupted in parts of the capital as a result of the attack, Klitschko added.Moscow launched a total of 36 missiles and 242 drones of various types, including 8 Iskander ballistic missiles and 10 Kalibr cruise missiles.Ukraine's air force had earlier warned of a ballistic missile threat and reported that drones were heading towards the capital.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had also alerted the nation regarding Russian attempts at a large-scale offensive on Thursday evening.He said that Russia aimed to take advantage of the frigid weather in the capital which has led to roads being icy and slippery, and called on people to seek protection in bomb shelters during raid alerts.