Russia Kills Four In Fresh Missile, Drone Attacks On Ukraine

At least four people were killed and 10 others injured after Russia launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine on Thursday.

The strike marked the first confirmed use of the Oreshnik ballistic missile in more than a year.

In a statement on Friday, Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its forces carried out a “massive strike with high-precision long-range land- and sea-based weapons, including the Oreshnik mobile medium-range ground-based missile system.”

Although Russia did not disclose the missile’s exact target, authorities in western Ukraine reported explosions and a ballistic missile strike on a critical infrastructure facility in the city of Lviv.

Ukraine’s Air Force said the missile travelled at about 13,000 kilometres per hour.

Russian officials have previously said the Oreshnik has a range capable of reaching much of Europe. Russia first deployed the missile in November 2024 in a strike on the city of Dnipro.

Last month, Russia released footage showing the system being stationed in neighbouring Belarus.

Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, condemned the latest strike and warned that the use of such weapons near NATO and European Union borders posed a serious threat to regional security.

“Such a strike close to the EU and NATO border is a grave threat to the security of the European continent and a test for the transatlantic community. We demand strong responses to Russia’s reckless actions,” he wrote on X.

Russia claimed the attack was in retaliation an alleged Ukrainian attempt to target President Vladimir Putin’s residence last month — an allegation rejected by US officials, with the CIA assessing that no such residence was targeted.

The assault came hours after Russia reiterated that any European troops deployed to Ukraine under a future peace arrangement would be considered “legitimate targets.”.

It also comes amid rising tensions following the seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker by US forces earlier this week.

Russia on Thursday condemned the US seizure of the oil tanker, arguing that it violated international maritime law.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia fired 36 missiles and 242 drones during the overnight operation.

In Kyiv, the attack began around midnight with multiple drone strikes on residential areas, CNN reported.

City mayor Vitali Klitschko said four people were killed and 10 others wounded, adding that critical infrastructure had also been damaged.

In Lviv, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said there was no immediate information about casualties from the missile strike. He noted that civilian facilities and residential buildings were not affected.

Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks. Tens of thousands of residents across the country have already been left without power as temperatures continue to drop.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the aim of the campaign was “to create chaos and apply psychological pressure on the (Ukrainian) population.”

The latest escalation also comes as diplomatic efforts intensify to end the nearly four-year-long war.

European leaders and US envoys are currently working on a framework that could include a multinational European force and a US-led monitoring mechanism once fighting ceases, but Russia has rejected it.