UKRAINE, LVIV OBLAST, Jan. 9 — On Jan. 8, Russia attacked Lviv oblast with an Oreshnik missile, reported Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. 

Oreshnik is an intermediate-range ballistic missile that could carry nuclear as well as other warheads. The missile that attacked Lviv oblast flew at a speed of 13,000 kilometers (8,077 miles) per hour, said the Ukrainian Air Force. 

Russia launched 242 kamikaze drones, 13 ballistic missiles, including Oreshnik, and 22 cruise missiles at Ukraine overnight, said Zelenskyy. He added that Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s critical infrastructure during a period of severe cold.

Russia attacked critical infrastructure in the Lviv region, said Andrii Sadovyi, Lviv mayor. No casualties were reported. He added that Russia attacked Lviv oblast with a ballistic missile for the first time since its full-scale invasion.  

“This is a new level of threat — not only for Ukraine, but also for the whole security of Europe,” Sadovyi said. 

Radiation levels remained within normal limits and no harmful substances were detected in the air following the Russian attack, said Maksym Kozytskyi, the governor of the Lviv region. 

Kozytskyi also said that in the village of Rudne, the Russian attack triggered the protective shut-off valve at the gas control station, leaving 367 customers without a gas supply. The repair works are still ongoing. 

Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed that Oreshnik attacked drone production facilities and energy infrastructure. Russia said that the Oreshnik strike was a response to Ukraine’s alleged attack on Russia’s presidential residence on Dec. 29. 

On Dec. 30, Zelensky called Russia’s statement about an attack on Putin’s residence fake. The CIA also said the United States had no evidence that Ukraine targeted the presidential residence.

Russia had previously used Oreshnik during its attack on Dnipro on Nov. 21, 2024

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