Ukraine’s SBU security service on Friday, January 9th confirmed Russia deployed its new Oreshnik ballistic missile on the western Lviv region. close to the border with the European Union—and publishing pictures it claimed were of the weapon’s fragments.
Moscow admitted it had launched the missile, which travels at hypersonic speeds and which the Kremlin says is impossible to intercept. It did not disclose its official targets.
According to the SBU
By attacking civilian targets in our country near the border with the European Union, the Kremlin attempted to destroy the region’s life-support infrastructure amid sharply deteriorating weather conditions.
Like the Kremlin, Ukraine did not clarify what had been targeted or the extent of any damage.
The EU and Germany condemned the use of Oreshnik, with Brussels foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas taking to social media to declare:
Russia’s reported use of an Oreshnik missile is a clear escalation against Ukraine and meant as a warning to Europe and to the U.S.
“Russia has escalated the situation once again,” German government spokesman Steffen Meyer said, adding “These are symbolic gestures of intimidation intended to instill fear, but they are not effective.”
