By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Europe, January 10 2026 - Russia has dramatically escalated its war with Ukraine by firing its Oreshnik hypersonic missile at a target near the European Union and NATO border, marking only the second known use of the advanced weapon since its debut in 2024.
The overnight attack, part of a widespread barrage that included dozens of drones and missiles, has deepened fears of regional escalation, struck critical infrastructure, and left Ukrainian civilians to grapple with extreme winter conditions and widespread outages.
Moscow confirmed it fired an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile at a target in western Ukraine’s Lviv region, around 60 km from the Polish border, in what Russian officials described as retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence, a claim Kyiv and Washington have dismissed.
The Oreshnik, named after the Russian word for “hazel tree” and developed from the RS-26 Rubezh system, can travel at speeds exceeding Mach 10 and carry multiple independently targetable warheads. Although there is no indication the missile in this attack carried nuclear components, its sheer speed and range underline Moscow’s intent to signal power to both Ukraine and Western capitals.
Russia’s Defence Ministry called its strike successful, claiming it hit a factory producing drones and energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials, however, described the justification as false and part of a broader attempt to undermine peace talks and intimidate European allies.
Massive Overnight Assault Worsens Civilian Suffering
The hypersonic missile launch was only part of an extensive overnight bombardment involving 242 drones and 36 conventional missiles, according to Ukrainian authorities. The offensive killed at least four people in Kyiv, injured over 20, and damaged buildings, including housing and possibly a diplomatic mission.
It knocked out electricity for more than half a million homes and cut water and heat in the middle of a harsh winter with temperatures around -10 °C (14 °F). In Kyiv, residents described shattered windows, freezing apartments and the struggle to stay warm after strikes ripped open high-rise buildings and left heating systems crippled.
One resident said there was “no water, no power, there’s nothing,” as emergency crews worked to restore services.
Symbolic Message to the West and Ukraine’s Allies
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The use of the Oreshnik so close to the NATO and EU border has drawn alarm from Kyiv and its Western partners. Ukraine’s foreign minister described the attack as a “grave threat to European security” that demands a coordinated global response.
Some analysts see the missile’s deployment, even with a conventional warhead, as a strategic tool of psychological warfare, meant to deter Western support for Kyiv.
Russian President Putin has publicly boasted that the Oreshnik’s speed and design make it difficult to intercept and that several such missiles could rival the effect of nuclear strikes even without nuclear payloads, further underscoring the weapon’s role as a symbol of Russian military projection.
International and Geopolitical Impacts
The strike comes amid stalled peace negotiations in Paris involving U.S. and European mediators, and as Western allies consider long-term security guarantees and support for Ukraine. The proximity of the attack to Poland, a NATO member, triggered urgent diplomatic consultations and heightened tensions among Alliance capitals over deterrence and collective defense.
German officials condemned the attack as an escalation intended to “instil fear” and urged a stronger and unified European response. Kyiv called emergency sessions of the United Nations Security Council, the Ukraine–NATO Council and other international bodies to press for action.
Beyond the strategic signals and weapons demonstrations, the human cost continues to mount. The winter offensive has repeatedly targeted energy infrastructure, leaving thousands of buildings without heat and complicating relief efforts as snow falls and temperatures plunge.
Residents’ resilience is being tested as everyday life is interrupted by routine outages, damaged homes and the psychological strain of a conflict entering its fourth year. The deployment of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile, only the second known operational use of the system since 2024, illustrates a broader trend in the Ukraine war: Moscow’s willingness to employ advanced weapons near European borders and to blend conventional warfare with strategic signaling aimed at Kyiv’s allies. At the same time, Ukraine’s appeals for support and global coordination reflect the challenges of defending both its territory and the norms of European security architecture.
