Russia says it fired its Oreshnik hypersonic missile at Ukraine

The Russian military announced it had launched its hypersonic Oreshnik missile at a target in Ukraine, claiming it was in response to an attempted Ukrainian drone strike on one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences last month—a claim Kyiv has denied.

This marks the second reported use of the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile, which Putin has touted as impossible to intercept due to its speed of over 10 times the speed of sound. The missile is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, although there is no indication that the one used in the overnight attack was armed with them.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the strike targeted critical infrastructure in Ukraine and that Russia had also employed attack drones and high-precision long-range land- and sea-based weapons.

"The strike's targets were hit," the ministry said in a statement, noting that the targets included a factory producing drones used in the alleged attack on Putin’s residence, as well as energy infrastructure.

Lviv regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyi confirmed that a critical infrastructure facility had been hit. Local media reports suggested that Stryi, a gas field with a large storage facility, was likely the intended target.

Russian war correspondents released video allegedly showing the Oreshnik missile striking its target in western Ukraine. The footage, filmed across a snow-covered landscape, showed six flashes hitting the ground, followed by a loud bang and a series of detonations. Reuters could not immediately verify the video’s authenticity.

Ukraine has called Russia’s claim that its drones attempted to attack Putin’s Novgorod residence on December 29 “an absurd lie” aimed at undermining already fragile peace talks.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed skepticism, saying he does not believe the strike on the residence occurred, though he added that “something” unrelated happened nearby.

Strike Confirmed by Ukrainian Authorities

The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed on Friday that Russia had fired an Oreshnik missile launched from the Kapustin Yar test range near the Caspian Sea.

Russia first used the Oreshnik—whose name means “hazel tree”—in November 2024, targeting what it said was a military factory in Ukraine. Ukrainian sources said that missile carried dummy warheads, causing only limited damage.

Putin has claimed that the Oreshnik’s destructive power is comparable to that of a nuclear weapon, even with conventional warheads. Some Western officials remain skeptical, with one U.S. official saying in December 2024 that the missile “was not seen as a game-changer on the battlefield.”

In December, Russia released video showing the deployment of the Oreshnik missile system in Belarus, a close ally, in a move designed to enhance Moscow’s ability to strike targets across Europe in the event of war.

-Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Peter Graff/Reuters