Russia strikes Ukraine with Oreshnik hypersonic missile

Continue reading for the latest updates from Russia's war in Ukraine from Friday, January 9: Ukraine is calling for urgent international action after a Russian overnight strike that included the use of a hypersonic Oreshnik missile.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the attack as "a grave threat to European security and a test for the transatlantic community."

He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of deploying an intermediate-range ballistic missile near EU and NATO borders, calling it "a global threat that demands global responses."

Ukrainian media had earlier reported the hypersonic missile hit an unspecified location near the western city of Lviv.

Kyiv is requesting an emergency UN Security Council meeting, as well as talks with NATO and European institutions.

Ukraine also wants tougher measures against Russia’s oil revenues and tanker fleet to curb Moscow’s war funding.

Russia said it targeted "strategic targets" in Ukraine overnight with an Oreshnik hypersonic missile, without providing further detail.

This marks the second time Russia has used the weapon against Ukraine. This time, the apparent target was in Ukraine's Lviv region, Ukrainian media reported.

Ukraine's United 24 news website reported that the suspected Oreshnik missile was not carrying an explosive warhead.

Although Ukraine has not yet officially confirmed the Oreshnik had been deployed, Ukrainian media quoted the Ukrainian Air Force as saying that an unspecified ballistic missile was used in Friday's attack, which had been travelling at a speed of nearly 13,000 km per hour (8,000 mph), making it consistent with Oreshnik's capability.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its latest strike also involved other ground- and sea-launched missiles to target Ukraine's critical infrastructure.

It claims the strikes were in response to an alleged attack on President Vladimir Putin's residence late last month.

Ukraine denies any involvement in the alleged attack and accuses Russia of using the claim to justify strikes on government buildings in Kyiv.

The overnight Russian strikes come after both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the US embassy in Kyiv warned that Moscow could imminently attack, either that evening in the coming few days.

According to Ukraine's leader, Russia would likely use the cold weather as a weapon and "break" Kyiv's spirit.

"This is Russia's war specifically against our people, against life in Ukraine — an attempt to break Ukraine," Zelenskyy posted on his X account.

The US embassy voiced similar tones, saying it had received information "concerning ​a potentially significant air attack that may occur at any time over the next several days."

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

At least three people were killed as a result of a Russia n snike in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said, adding 13 people were injured in the attack.

According to Klitschko, one of the casualties was a medic responding to a building that had been hit by a drone, before the building was hit a second time.

It was initially unclear whether the medic was included in the toll given by the Kyiv mayor.

This comes as nationwide missile warnings were heard across Ukraine.

Meanwhile, in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, critical infrastructure was hit by a Russian attack, according to city Mayor Andriy Sadovy, who added that rescue services are working on extinguishing the fire.

Russia rejected the idea of European peacekeepers being deployed in Ukraine as part of a peace plan between the two countries hours before the attack took place, also calling Kyiv and its allies an "axis of war."

Russia's second night of strikes across Ukraine resulted in at least three people killed in Kyic, and at least 13 injured.

As sirens were heard across Ukraine, Moscow also hit infrastructure in the Lviv region.

This comes hours after Russia's rejection of the idea of European peacekeepers being deployed in Ukraine, as discussed in Paris.

We'll have all the updates from Moscow's war in Ukraine.