Vladimir Putin deployed the Oreshnik missile, capable of reaching speeds of 8,000mph, in a series of strikes on Ukraine. The attack targeted Europe’s largest underground gas storage facility near Lviv, approximately 40 miles from NATO and EU territory in Poland. The strike caused significant damage, adding to the ongoing devastation in Ukraine, with civilians in Kyiv and Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih being among the most affected.
The missile was launched from the Astrakhan region in Russia and exploded over Lviv in less than 15 minutes, emitting bright flashes that illuminated the night sky in shades of pink and red. Speculation arose online due to the missile’s extraordinary speed, suggesting it was an Oreshnik-type ballistic weapon. The Russian defense ministry confirmed the use of Oreshnik, attributing it to a supposed Ukrainian attempt to target Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region, a claim denied by Western intelligence and Ukraine.
The strike was described by the Moscow defense ministry as a response to the alleged attack on Putin’s residence, targeting critical sites in Ukraine with precision weapons, including the Oreshnik system. Ukraine’s foreign minister condemned the attack as a grave threat to European security, emphasizing that Russia’s justification based on the fabricated incident was absurd.
This marked the second time the Oreshnik missile was used in combat, following a previous incident in Dnipro in 2024. The missile system is now stationed near Ukraine and NATO territories in Belarus. The strike on Lviv underscored Putin’s disregard for calls for peace, as Russia continued its assault on various Ukrainian regions, inflicting casualties and destruction.
The impact on the gas storage facility’s functionality, crucial for Ukraine’s energy supplies, remained uncertain. Despite the missile’s atomic capability, there was no indication that the strike was nuclear. Putin asserted that conventional Oreshnik missiles could generate temperatures up to 4,000C, emphasizing their destructive power. The use of the Oreshnik missile highlighted Putin’s intent to intimidate and signal escalation in the conflict, disregarding calls for de-escalation and peace settlements.