On January 9, 2026, the ongoing confrontation between Russia and Ukraine took a dangerous turn when Moscow said it had fired its advanced Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile as part of a major nocturnal attack.
This is only the second time this hypersonic missile has been used in battle, which is worrying because the war has already been going on for years. The Russian Defense Ministry called the attack a "massive strike" that used long-range precision weaponry from both land and water, such as the Oreshnik system.
“What Russia is doing just shows they don't want peace. But regular people here are the ones who are suffering—families are being torn apart and lives are being lost. We all just want this to be over.
They said it was revenge for what they said was a Ukrainian drone attack on one of President Vladimir Putin's homes late last year. Both Ukraine and the United States have said that there was never a drone strike on Putin's home, calling it a made-up reason.
Massive Overnight Barrage Targets Kyiv and Western Ukraine
Russia didn't say exactly where the Oreshnik landed, but pro-Russian military bloggers and news sites said it was near a big underground natural gas storage station in Ukraine's western Lviv region, close to the borders with Poland and other EU nations. Ukrainian officials verified that a ballistic missile hit important infrastructure there. Lviv's mayor, Andrii Sadovyi, said that the missile was coming in at speeds of 13,000 kilometers per hour, which is more than Mach 10. Experts are currently looking over the wreckage to be sure it was the Oreshnik.
But this wasn't just one missile. The Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia launched one of the greatest attacks yet, with about 242 drones and 36 missiles of different types. It looked like the focus was on energy infrastructure and other important places, but civilians were the ones who suffered the most in places like the capital, Kyiv.
In Kyiv, the night was crazy. Explosions lit up the sky, and air raid sirens went out for hours. Four people died, including an emergency medical worker who was out aiding others. At least 22 people were hurt, some of whom were rescue workers who were hit in what appeared like a "double-tap" approach, which means hitting the same location twice to target first responders.
Reports from the ground revealed a gloomy picture: drones smashing into apartment complexes, breaking windows, igniting fires, and causing severe power and water outages.
Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, claimed that as the severe weather got worse, some districts of the city were left in the dark and without running water.
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Human Stories Amid the Chaos in Kyiv
A 45-year-old man from Kyiv named Dmytro Karpenko told reporters his story. The explosions broke out his windows, and when he saw that his neighbor's house was on fire, he raced out to aid.
He continued, "What Russia is doing just shows they don't want peace," his voice heavy with tiredness. "But regular people here are the ones who are suffering—families are being torn apart and lives are being lost. We all want this to be over.
The time made things even more tense. Just a few hours before, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had said that a big Russian attack may happen, especially because the cold weather was making roads treacherous and life harder for everyone. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv also had word of a big attack approaching.
Rescue teams worked through the morning in Kyiv, putting out fires and searching rubble. The human cost is rising with each such strike.
Families in affected districts face blackouts and no water in freezing conditions.
The Terrifying Capabilities of the Oreshnik Missile
Now let's speak about why the Oreshnik is so scary. In Russian, the word means "hazelnut," yet it's not small or safe. This missile can go very fast, up to Mach 10 or more when it comes back down, and it has several warheads that can move on their own.
Putin has said that no present defensive system can reliably stop it. He also said that a barrage of these in regular mode may do as much damage as a nuclear strike. Yes, it can carry nuclear weapons, but there is no evidence that nuclear warheads were utilized this time.
Russia first used the Oreshnik in battle in November 2024, when it hit a plant in Dnipro. Putin has said many times that he might use the Oreshnik against Western partners if they let Ukraine utilize their long-range missiles closer into Russia.
Putting it in place now, especially close to NATO borders, seems like a clear message to both Kyiv and the West. Experts worry about escalation risks.
The missile's hypersonic speed makes interception very difficult.
Ukraine's Diplomatic Response and Calls for Action
Now let's speak about why the Oreshnik is so scary. In Russian, the word means "hazelnut," yet it's not small or safe. This missile can go very fast, up to Mach 10 or more when it comes back down, and it has several warheads that can move on their own.
Putin has said that no present defensive system can reliably stop it. He also said that a barrage of these in regular mode may do as much damage as a nuclear strike. Yes, it can carry nuclear weapons, but there is no evidence that nuclear warheads were utilized this time.
Russia first used the Oreshnik in battle in November 2024, when it hit a plant in Dnipro. Putin has said many times that he might use the Oreshnik against Western partners if they let Ukraine utilize their long-range missiles closer into Russia.
Putting it in place now, especially close to NATO borders, seems like a clear message to both Kyiv and the West. Experts worry about escalation risks.
The missile's hypersonic speed makes interception very difficult.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Suffering
The cost in terms of human lives keeps going up. In Kyiv, rescuers were spotted fighting fires in damaged buildings far into the morning, moving debris aside to look for survivors.
In Lviv, there aren't as many details, but the knock on electricity infrastructure might cause problems for a long time, especially in the winter.
Dmytro's story and others like his remind us that there are regular people fighting to stay alive behind the news and missile specs. Zelenskyy has mentioned many times that Russia seems to want to take advantage of terrible weather and tiredness.
But Ukrainians keep going, hoping for real peace and more support from the rest of the globe. This strike adds to fears of wider conflict.
The world watches as risks to regional stability grow.
David Martinez
World Affairs Reporter
David Martinez is a world affairs journalist with expertise in international relations, conflict reporting, and global humanitarian issues. He has reported from conflict zones and has an eye for the political dynamics of international crises.
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