Ukraine has leveled accusations against Vladimir Putin for committing another alleged ‘war crime’ following the launch of a powerful new hypersonic weapon by Russia during recent overnight attacks. The assault resulted in the loss of at least four lives in Kyiv due to a barrage of Russian strikes, with additional strikes hitting civilian areas in the Lviv region close to the Polish border.
The SBU security service of Ukraine has unveiled images showing the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile discovered amidst debris in Lviv, confirming that the weapon’s deployment is being treated as a violation of international law. Among the recovered missile fragments presented by Ukrainian investigators are essential components such as the stabilisation and guidance block, flight control and targeting unit, engine parts, orientation mechanism fragments, and nozzle pieces from the deployment platform.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the missile was launched from Russia’s Kapustin Yar test site, located approximately 900 miles away. The gathered evidence has been designated for detailed forensic examination, potentially yielding critical insights into the Russian Oreshnik missile system.
According to Ukrainian officials, the missile was reportedly used against civilian infrastructure rather than military targets, exploiting a moment of heightened vulnerability for Ukraine amidst severe cold weather conditions. Reports suggest that Europe’s largest gas storage facility was a primary target, coinciding with plummeting temperatures reaching -12C overnight.
The SBU has alleged that the Kremlin’s objective was to disable vital civilian infrastructure near the EU border during adverse weather conditions. A war crimes case has been initiated under Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code to address the breach of international laws.
The Oreshnik missile, touted by Moscow as a cutting-edge strategic weapon capable of carrying nuclear warheads, has been employed in the past without explosive payloads, serving as a tool of intimidation rather than destruction. While the SBU did not confirm the presence of a full warhead on the missile, the recovered fragments suggest a medium-range ballistic strike.
The proximity of the strike to the Lviv region, near NATO and EU territories, has sparked concerns among Ukrainian authorities. Security sources believe the attack was primarily intended as a political gesture rather than a military advancement, aiming to instill fear rather than achieve strategic gains.
Efforts are underway by the SBU to identify and hold accountable all individuals involved in orchestrating and executing the strike. In related developments, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has engaged in discussions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the situation in Ukraine, Greenland, and Iran, emphasizing close collaboration to secure a peace agreement in Ukraine. Leaders have condemned Russia’s ongoing attacks, including the use of an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile in western Ukraine, deeming them as escalatory and unacceptable.