Russia claims Oreshnik strike after overnight terror attack on Ukraine

In its statement, the Russian military alleged it carried out a “large-scale strike with high-precision long-range weapons launched from land and sea,” including the Oreshnik mobile ground-based missile system. Moscow cynically described the attack as retaliation for what it called a “Ukrainian strike on Putin’s residence.”

Russian officials claimed they targeted drone production facilities and energy infrastructure that supposedly supports Ukraine’s defense sector. As usual, they made no mention of strikes on residential buildings or civilian casualties.

Overnight on Jan. 9, Russia launched missile attacks on infrastructure in Lviv Oblast. Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said that the launch of an Oreshnik missile from Russia’s Kapustin Yar test range could not be ruled out.

Ukraine’s Western Air Command later reported that the ballistic missile used in the strike on Lviv Oblast was traveling at a speed of about 13,000 kilometers per hour. The missile type will be determined after a full examination of its fragments.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi reported a strike on a critical infrastructure facility in the region, which led to a partial disruption of gas supply.

On Dec. 29, 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of launching 91 drones at Putin’s residence in Valdai and threatened a “retaliatory strike.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the claims as “yet another Russian lie,” warning that Moscow could be preparing strikes against Kyiv.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War also refuted Lavrov’s statements, noting that there was no evidence to support the alleged attack. They added that residents of Valdai reported no air defense activity overnight.

On Jan. 4, U.S. President Donald Trump said he did not believe Russia’s claims about an alleged Ukrainian strike on Putin’s residence.