Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that Russia used Oreshnik missiles against Ukraine during the night.
He reported this in a post on Telegram.
“In total, there were 242 drones last night, including 13 ballistic missiles targeting energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, one Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile, and 22 cruise missiles. The attack came just as a significant cold snap was setting in. It was aimed precisely at the ordinary lives of ordinary people,” the head of state noted.
In addition to civilian infrastructure and energy facilities, the building of the Qatari Embassy was damaged by a Russian drone overnight.
Zelenskyy recalled that Qatar has been playing an active role in mediating with Russia to secure the release of prisoners of war and civilians held in Russian detention.
“Everything possible is being done to restore heating and electricity for people. Today, a meeting of the Energy Headquarters will take place, at which I expect reports on all aspects of the restoration work — deadlines, required equipment, and those responsible,” the President said.
He stressed that a clear response is needed from the international community, particularly from the United States, which Russia genuinely respects.
“Russia must receive signals that it is obliged to focus on diplomacy and feel the consequences every time it chooses killing and the destruction of infrastructure,” Zelenskyy wrote, adding that today’s strike “reminds all our partners as loudly as possible that air defence support for Ukraine is a constant priority”.
In Kyiv and the Region, efforts to deal with the aftermath of the massive Russian shelling are ongoing. All necessary services have been mobilised. Twenty residential buildings have been damaged. As of now, four deaths have been reported in the capital alone, including an ambulance worker.
During the night, while an air raid alert was in effect across Ukraine due to the potential launch of Russian Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missiles, residents of Lviv reported hearing a series of six explosions.
- Later, the head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyy, reported an attack on a critical infrastructure facility in the region.
- Subsequently, the Air Force reported possible launches of Oreshnik missiles from the Kapustin Yar test site in connection with the explosions in the Lviv Region. The West Air Command stated that the missile’s speed was approximately 13,000 km/h.
- This marks the second recorded use of this type of weapon against Ukraine. The first occurred on 21 November 2024, when Russian forces targeted the Pivdenmash plant in Dnipro.
- Further details about this missile can be found in the article “Oreshnik: one year on” on LB.ua.