Russia strikes Lviv with Oreshnik for first time in war, authorities say

Late on January 8, Russia struck Lviv for the first time since the start of the war using a medium-range ballistic missile known as Oreshnik, local authorities said. Lviv lies less than 70 km from the European Union border.

The statement was made by Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi.

«This is the first use of this type of strike against Lviv during the full-scale war. It is a clear signal to our international partners that Russia’s war does not stop at any borders, ” the official said.

Sadovyi also said that, according to the military, the missile travelled along a ballistic trajectory at a speed of around 13,000 km/h, which he described as «ultra-high speed».

Attack on Lviv

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack using various types of missiles, including Kalibr cruise missiles, as well as hundreds of drones. Russian forces also fired a medium-range ballistic missile from the Kapustin Yar test site in Russia’s Astrakhan region.

While reports said the main strike targeted Kyiv and the surrounding region, powerful explosions were heard in Lviv close to midnight during an air raid alert. Monitoring groups suggested the strike may have involved an Oreshnik missile. The authorities confirmed an impact but did not specify what type of missile was used.

Russia’s defense ministry said it had launched an Oreshnik strike in response to what it described as a drone attack on the residence of president Vladimir Putin in Valdai. Moscow claimed the strike targeted Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.