Four Dead As Russia Strikes Ukraine With Oreshnik Hypersonic Missiles

Last Updated:January 09, 2026, 19:35 IST

Russia attacked Ukraine with hundreds of drones and Oreshnik missiles, killing four. The assault follows Kyiv and Western allies' progress on security deals.

This photograph, taken and released by the Ukrainian Security Service on January 9, 2026 reportedly shows a fragment of a Russian Oreshnik ballistic missile at an undisclosed location, said to have been used for only the second known time in a strike on the western Lviv region overnight, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Handout / UKRAINIAN SECURITY SERVICE / AFP)

Russia launched a large-scale overnight assault on Ukraine, bombarding multiple regions with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, Ukrainian officials said on Friday. At least four people were killed in the attack, which marked only the second time Russia has used a newly unveiled ballistic missile it claims can travel at ten times the speed of sound and evade air defence systems.

The heavy barrage, which included the launch of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile, came just days after Kyiv and its Western allies reported significant progress toward agreeing on security arrangements to protect Ukraine from future Russian aggression in the event a peace deal is reached. 

The latest strikes underscored Moscow’s continued military pressure nearly four years into the war, even as diplomatic efforts to shape post-war security guarantees gain momentum.

The Oreshnik ballistic missile is described by Russia as a next-generation, nuclear-capable weapon with extreme speed and penetration capabilities. Moscow claims the missile can travel at up to Mach 10—around ten times the speed of sound—making it exceptionally difficult to track or intercept using existing air defence systems.

According to Russian officials, the Oreshnik is designed to evade modern missile defence systems through high velocity and advanced manoeuvrability, allowing it to strike targets deep inside enemy territory. Its reported ability to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads has raised serious concerns among Ukraine and its Western allies, as its deployment signals a significant escalation in Russia’s long-range strike capabilities.

News world Four Dead As Russia Strikes Ukraine With Oreshnik Hypersonic Missiles

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