“On the night of January 9, 2025, Russia carried out another large-scale air strike on Ukraine. The main targets this time have traditionally been the capital, as well as the Lviv region. Dozens of rockets and about 200 drones were fired at Kyiv, numerous residential buildings were hit, and there were injured and dead. There is no heat, water and electricity supply on the left bank, and emergency services have been introduced”, — write on: ua.news
On the night of January 9, 2025, Russia carried out another large-scale air strike on Ukraine. The main targets this time have traditionally been the capital, as well as the Lviv region.
Dozens of rockets and about 200 drones were fired at Kyiv, numerous residential buildings were hit, and there were injured and dead. There is no heat, water and electricity supply on the left bank, and emergency schedules have been introduced. In general, as of the morning of January 9, at least half of the capital is without light.
However, the main “star” of the night was the Oreshnik medium-range intercontinental ballistic missile strike. This is officially the second use of this newest weapon of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
Moscow for the first time hit with “Oreshnik” at the Yuzhmash plant in Dnipro on November 21, 2024. By the way, after that, the Kremlin promised that the Ukrainians would be warned about the next launches of the corresponding missile – however, there was no warning from Russia that night. That is, the Russians lied here as well.
“Oreshnik” strike came in the Lviv region. There is information that this missile hit the underground gas storage “Bilche-Volitsko-Ugerske”, located in the city of Stryi. However, this is not officially confirmed: it is stated only about “damage to the infrastructure object”, and it is also noted that there were no victims as a result of the attack.
Note that the attack by “Oreshnik” was clearly demonstrative. First, it is presented as a response to the “drone attack on Putin’s residence” evidence and facts of which still do not exist. Secondly, the strike took place against the background of international news of general concern for Russia: the kidnapping of the president of Venezuela, an ally of the Russian Federation Nicolas Maduro seizure of Russian tankers of the “shadow fleet”, mass protests in Iran etc. Thirdly, there is information that literally on Wednesday, January 7, the American delegation handed over drafts of the peace plan agreed with Ukraine on the Russian side.
And it is against this background that Putin orders the use of Oreshnik.
What does this decision mean, why was the newest weapon used right now, and what can we expect in the future? Edition UA.News turned to political and military experts for comments. More details – in our material.
Another rattling of the nuclear baton: military expert Oleg Zhdanov
In what happened tonight, everything is very clear and logical. The use of “Oreshnik” right now, and not in Kyiv, as many thought, but in Western Ukraine is logical. It was a missile without a warhead, I think. That is, without an explosive element. Although they could equip the rocket with TNT. But there were supposed to be iron ingots, and the effect of the impact was kinetic. It looks like an explosion and creates a large fire.
The “Oreshnik” combat charge, for the sake of understanding, is a nuclear charge. This is a rocket-carrier of a nuclear supply.
The meaning of such a strike is that it is Putin’s revenge for the alleged attack on his residence, as well as a demonstration by the Russian dictator of his military power. He reminds NATO that Russia has nuclear weapons. This should make NATO shudder — of course, in the Kremlin’s logic — and stop providing us with weapons and aid. This is also a signal from the USA: not to seize Russian tankers and behave with an eye on Moscow. In general, it is about another rattling of the nuclear baton, that’s all.
This is a threat to us and to Europe: political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko
The “Oreshnik” strike is a demonstrative and demonstrative action. It is currently used exclusively for such purposes. Choosing Western Ukraine as a target is not only a threat to us: it is a threat to Europe. This is a demonstration that Oreshnik will reach Europe. You need this picture, you need a visual effect, you need to create an impression.
However, as far as I understand, the blow was inflicted on the object of the gas infrastructure, on the gas storage. Thus, our energy supply system is weakened. And in connection with severe frosts, we may not have enough gas anyway. If part of the gas storage facilities are also destroyed (and this is already happening), then there are risks of losing the necessary amount of gas, and we already have it “right up against”.
That is why power cuts are made deliberately and specifically during severe frosts. to provoke a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and reduce our resistance potential. And, indeed, there is a psychological component of influence on the population.
The Russian Federation puts pressure on the Ukrainian authorities through civilians: military officer, commander of the intelligence unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Denys Yaroslavskyi
As far as I understand, tonight it was a “Oreshnik” with a cassette part, not a classic warhead. It was used because it causes the most discussion in the public space.
This is a direct warning from the EU. The strike came after Putin rejected our peace plan, it’s clearly an ostentatious demonstration. Also, as far as I understand, the underground gas storage was destroyed or badly damaged. This is done in order for winter to affect civilians as much as possible.
This is tactical pressure on civilians to change the configuration of the peace plan. That is, we are talking about the coercion of the Ukrainian authorities through pressure on civilians, this is the strategy of the Russians.
The situation in general with this latest shelling is very difficult, particularly in Kyiv. Mayor Klitschko is already saying that those who are able to do so should leave Kyiv. Already on the left bank, they begin to drain the water from the batteries.
Here everything works very simply: batteries do not work – houses cool down – people switch to autonomous heating systems – this increases the load on energy, and there is already not enough power and voltage, well, it’s clear what’s going on. A few days will pass, and Kyiv will howl – this is their strategy. They put pressure on civilians to put pressure on the authorities. Whether this will lead to any radical consequences – let’s see.
“Oreshnik” is a symbolic revenge on the part of the Russian Federation: political scientist Ruslan Bortnik
The use of “Oreshnik” is an attempt to demonstrate strength and give a symbolic response to the so-called “attack of Ukrainian drones on Putin’s residence”. Because Russian society, after such statements by the Russian leadership, demanded a symbolic response, demanded revenge.
At the same time, the lack of this revenge completely disproved and destroyed the very statements and accusations of the Kremlin leadership. That is why I think today’s strike is an effort to show strength. This is very symbolic for the alleged attack on Putin’s dacha.
However, this is also an attempt to influence the negotiations, these are also quite understandable signals from the West, including against the background of detention of Russian tankers by American special forces, and against the background of threats to strengthen sanctions against Moscow. It all boils down to one single thing: a massive strike and the use of “Oreshnik”.
Is this an escalation? Of course, there is. But I think that escalation is not the first and not the main goal. The goal is a demonstration of strength, a signal to both Ukraine and Europe from the USA, and this is a symbolic act of revenge.
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