In Retaliation to Ukrainian Attack on Putin’s Residence, Russia Launches Oreshnik Missile Strikes
RUSSIA – In retaliation to Ukrainian attack on Putin’s residence, the Russian Armed Forces launched overnight strikes targeting Ukraine, including Oreshnik missile strikes for the second time in the ongoing Ukraine war.
“A massive strike was launched using long-range, land and sea-based precision weapons, including the Oreshnik medium-range mobile ground-based missile system, as well as strike drones, against critical targets on Ukrainian territory,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Friday Jan. 9.
Among the targets were the drone manufacturing facilities used by the Ukrainian forces to target the Russian president’s residence.
“Any terrorist actions by the criminal Ukrainian regime will continue to be met with a response,” the ministry added.
Ukraine launched a targeted, multi-stage drone strikes on Dec. 28, with at least 91 drones launched from Sumy and Charnihiv regions.
The attack was however thwarted after the drones were intercepted before they could get to their designated targets, resulting to no damage or casualties.
Russian Strike on Kyiv Kills 4
At least four people have been killed and 25 others injured following Russian strikes on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv’s mayor said on Friday.
Among the wounded were medical personnel, rescue workers and a police officer, prosecutors said. The attack affected multiple districts of the capital, including Darnytsia, Dnipro, Desnianskyi, Pechersk, Shevchenkivskyi, Holosiivskyi and Sviatoshynskyi.
Authorities said 19 high-rise buildings were damaged, along with an embassy building, a kindergarten, a tram depot, an unfinished residential tower, several vehicles, a supermarket and a gas station. Emergency services and law enforcement agencies continued work at the affected sites, noting that the final casualty toll was still being clarified.
Under the procedural leadership of the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office, a pre-trial investigation was launched into alleged war crimes under Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, citing civilian deaths and damage to civilian infrastructure.
Separately, Ukraine’s Air Force said that “a massive attack by enemy strike UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) on Kyiv is underway!”
It said “all of Ukraine” is under a “missile threat” and confirmed that Russian aircraft were airborne.
Zelenskyy Says Qatari Embassy Building Damaged
“In addition to our civilian infrastructure and energy facilities, a building of the Embassy of Qatar was damaged last night by a Russian drone,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram.
He emphasized the diplomatic significance of the target, describing Qatar as “a state that does so much to mediate with Russia in order to secure the release of prisoners of war and civilians held in Russian prisons.”
Zelenskyy said Russian forces launched 242 drones, 13 ballistic missiles, 22 cruise missiles, and also fired the Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile, killing four people in the capital.
A “second strike,” he added, hit a residential building while first responders were assisting victims, injuring dozens and killing an ambulance crew member.
“A clear reaction from the world is needed, above all from the United States,” he said, urging partners to prioritize air defense support.
He earlier warned Russia was “betting more on winter” and ballistic missiles than on diplomacy or agreements with US President Donald Trump.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the strike with Oreshnik ballistic missile close to EU and NATO border “is a grave threat to the security on the European continent and a test for the transatlantic community.”
He said Ukraine will initiate an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council, as well as responses within the EU, Council of Europe, and OSCE.
