Russia has reportedly launched a strike on western Ukraine’s Lviv Oblast using a nuclear-capable ballistic missile known as Oreshnik, raising serious concerns of further escalation, according to Ukrainian officials and monitoring channels.
Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, said the strike targeted a critical infrastructure facility in the region. Residents reported hearing more than 10 loud explosions, which authorities believe may have resulted from multiple warheads associated with the missile.
Ukraine’s Air Force issued a nationwide air raid alert shortly before the strike, after intelligence warnings indicated a possible launch from Russia’s Kapustin Yar missile test range. Ukrainian Telegram monitoring channels also warned that the missile threat originated from deep inside Russia.
Officials stated that Ukraine currently has no air defence systems capable of intercepting this class of ballistic missile, underscoring the gravity of the attack.
In a parallel development, Ukrainian monitoring sources reported that around 100 Russian drones were simultaneously heading toward Kyiv, suggesting a coordinated, multi-vector assault. There are also warnings that Moscow may launch additional Oreshnik missiles within the next 24 hours.
The Oreshnik missile—linked to Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh programme—is nuclear-capable and has previously been deployed to Belarus, placing several European cities within its potential range. Analysts view its reported use against Ukraine as a significant escalation in Russia’s missile campaign and a continuation of nuclear signalling amid the ongoing conflict.
Ukrainian authorities continue to assess the damage, while air defence and emergency services remain on high alert as the security situation evolves.
