- January 9, 2026
- 6:09 pm
- Brief news
Ukraine initiates the convening of a UN Security Council meeting after Russia’s repeated use of the medium-range ballistic missile “Oreshnik.” The reason was a nighttime strike on Ukrainian territory, which Moscow presented as a “response” to an alleged drone attack on Putin’s residence — an episode not confirmed by independent sources.
The missile itself has not been shown to the world.
Its capabilities are judged solely by statements from Russian authorities and the consequences of its combat use.
On the night of January 9, Russia struck Ukraine using the “Oreshnik.” According to available data, the strike hit the Lviv region. Simultaneously, a massive shelling targeted Kyiv: four people were killed, and parts of the capital were left without electricity, water, and heating.
Numerous hits on residential buildings in different areas were recorded. The Ukrainian side indicates that the strikes could have been aimed at thermal energy facilities — at a time when the country was experiencing severe frosts, which are expected to last at least a week.
What could have been the target of the strike
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the missile hit drone production facilities allegedly used for the attack on Putin’s residence.
Simultaneously, an alternative version appeared in the pro-military Russian information field: the possible target is called the Bilche-Volytsko-Uherske underground gas storage, the largest in Europe. This is an extremely complex facility — the depth of some infrastructure elements reaches almost 900 meters.
None of the versions are confirmed by objective data.
No official reports have been made about the results of the strike — destruction, effectiveness, or achievement of military goals.
What is known about the “Oreshnik” missile
The existence of the complex was publicly announced in November 2024 — after a strike on the “Yuzhmash” plant in Dnipro. “Oreshnik” is classified as a medium-range ballistic missile with a declared range of up to 5,000 kilometers.
Such systems were banned under a treaty between Russia and the USA, which was in effect from 1988 to 2019. After Moscow’s withdrawal from the agreement, the development and testing of missiles of this class were resumed.
The missile can carry a nuclear charge. In strikes on Ukraine, according to the Russian side, kinetic warheads were used — without explosives, hitting the target due to mass and speed.
Technology and real effectiveness
According to Putin’s statements, the “Oreshnik” warheads develop a speed of 2.5–3 km/s, and the impact force is allegedly comparable to a low-yield nuclear charge.
Practical data do not confirm this. After the strike on “Yuzhmash” in 2024, Western experts did not record critical damage to the enterprise.
The kinetic principle has long been used in US and Israeli missile defense systems, but there it is applied to intercept targets in the air. The use of a purely kinetic strike on ground infrastructure remains controversial and weakly confirmed in terms of military effectiveness.
Possibility of interception
Modern missile defense systems are theoretically capable of intercepting ballistic missile warheads. The latest modifications of the Patriot, in service with the USA and Israel, have previously demonstrated the ability to shoot down Russian aeroballistic missiles, including “Kinzhal.”
In the case of “Oreshnik,” no interception was recorded. This may be due to the absence of missile defense systems in the strike area or the peculiarities of the trajectory and speed of the new missile.
How many “Oreshniks” and where they are deployed
According to Putin’s statements, serial production of the complex began in November last year. At the end of December, the missile was put on combat duty in Belarus.
The “Oreshnik” launcher has not yet been publicly demonstrated. In video materials from the Russian Ministry of Defense from Belarus, only service vehicles were captured.
Both recorded combat uses of the missile were carried out from the Kapustin Yar range in the Astrakhan region.
Why Ukraine is appealing to the UN Security Council
The convening of the UN Security Council is not only a reaction to a specific strike.
Firstly, the use of a medium-range ballistic missile occurred in close proximity to the borders of the European Union. This is not only an attack on Ukraine but also a signal of pressure addressed to European states.
Secondly, a few hours before the strike, the US embassy issued a warning about a “serious attack.” As a rule, launches of missiles of this class are communicated in advance to strategic adversaries through closed channels — to avoid an immediate retaliatory strike.
The key question remains open: will there be an international reaction — or will the use of medium-range missiles in the European region gradually be perceived as the new norm.
The story with “Oreshnik” is not only about one missile and one episode. It is about blurring the boundaries of what is permissible in war, which affects the security of Europe and the entire region. That is why Ukraine’s appeal to the UN Security Council looks not like a formality, but an attempt to record a dangerous escalation before it becomes routine.
NANews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency
