On the evening of January 8, 2026, russia targeted Lviv, Ukraine, with the second operational use of an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM), codenamed Oreshnik, launched from the Kapustin Yar test range in Astrakhan region, russia. The missile travelled approximately 1622 km to its target, according to the UK Defense Intelligence.
The Oreshnik strike was combined with approximately 200 unmanned aerial systems, at least ten ballistic missile variants, and at least ten Kalibr land attack cruise missiles launched from the Black Sea, which targeted a range of locations across Ukraine. Gas and power outages have been reported in Lviv, with the city's governor stating that russian strikes had targeted critical national infrastructure.
Read more: russia Combines Shahed drones, Kalibr, Iskander-M, S-400 and Oreshnik Missiles in Major Strike on Ukraine
Russia announced its withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in February 2019, which banned the development and production of IRBMs. However, the development of Oreshnik system almost certainly occurred before this. The system is highly likely a variant of Rubezh RS-26 ballistic missile, which was first tested in 2011.
The use of this experimental system against Ukraine was almost certainly intended as strategic messaging following russia's inaccurate public claims that Ukraine carried out an attack on russian President Vladimir Putin's residence in Novgorod, russia, on December 29, 2025.
Russia highly likely only has a handful of Oreshnik missiles. This missile is highly likely to be far more expensive than other missiles russia is currently using against Ukraine.
As Defense Express previously reported, Ukrainian authorities have identified the location of debris from russian ballistic missile used in a strike against Lviv region during the night of January 8-9, 2026. According to preliminary findings, the recovered components belong to the Oreshnik missile system, a medium-range ground-to-ground ballistic weapon.
Read more: Ukraine Identifies Oreshnik Ballistic Missile Used in Lviv Region Attack
