The above image is a symbolic digital illustration only and does not depict actual events or locations.
January 9, 2026 — Kyiv/Lviv
Russia carried out a major overnight aerial assault on Ukraine, during which it deployed the Oreshnik hypersonic missile against a target in western Ukraine’s Lviv region, close to the country’s border with NATO members. The strike marks only the second known instance of the missile being used in combat since the start of the war.
Ukrainian authorities said the attack formed part of a broader wave of missile and drone strikes launched across several regions. While air-defence systems intercepted a significant portion of the incoming threats, some projectiles penetrated defences and damaged critical infrastructure in the west.
In the capital Kyiv, falling debris from intercepted drones and missiles hit residential areas, killing at least four civilians and injuring more than 20 others. Emergency services reported damage to apartment buildings and temporary disruptions to power supplies as temperatures remained well below seasonal norms.
Moscow described the operation as a retaliatory response to recent Ukrainian actions, a claim strongly denied by Kyiv. Ukrainian officials confirmed infrastructure damage but said details about the specific weapons used were still being assessed.
Military analysts say the deployment of a hypersonic ballistic missile — capable of travelling at extremely high speeds and evading conventional air defences — represents a notable escalation in the conflict, particularly given the proximity of the strike zone to NATO territory.
The overnight attack comes as fighting continues along several front-line sectors in eastern Ukraine, with neither side reporting a decisive shift in territorial control. Diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions have so far failed to curb the intensifying use of long-range weapons, underscoring the volatile trajectory of the war as it enters its 1,415th day.
