The Russian attack with the hypersonic missile Oreshnik in the region of Lviv, near the border with Poland, a member of NATO, triggered a panicked reaction in Europe.
The strike, which carries strong geopolitical messages, appears to be a Russian warning to NATO and European powers, as Russia is using the Oreshnik to simulate a nuclear strike at the heart of Europe.
Russia sent a clear message to the West: Stop the ongoing support of Ukraine, you will pay the consequences.
At the same time, Moscow is also addressing the United States, and by showcasing the achievements of its military technology, it points out that they should stop the pirate provocations against Russian tankers so as not to be targeted.
The existence of the Oreshnik missile, also known as Hazel, became known on 21 November 2024, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced its use against a military installation near the city of Dnipro in Ukraine.
From that moment on, Russia has put this new system into production and service, which was presented as a superweapon with speed capability exceeding 10 Mach and the ability to carry multiple nuclear warheads.
The characteristic of the Oreshnik is that it possesses reentry vehicles, which can be guided at very low altitudes, something that makes it capable of hypersonic attacks, with maneuvering capabilities and speeds above 5 Mach.
The target
Russia used the Oreshnik to strike strategic targets in Ukraine.
According to the Ministry of Defense of Russia, the strike was retaliation for the attack on the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin the previous week and targeted facilities related to drone production and energy infrastructure that supports the operation of the Ukrainian military industrial complex.
Although the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported that the “critical infrastructure of the region” was hit, it has not been made clear exactly what was destroyed.
The main target appears to be the underground gas storage facility (UGS) near the city of Stryi, which is considered one of the largest in Europe and ensures the stability of energy supply to the EU.
Strategic significance of the attack
Russia has not hidden its intentions: The destruction of these infrastructures would cause serious impacts on European energy security, as it could lead to the loss of up to 35% of Europe’s gas storage capacity.
This would force Europe to turn to more expensive gas from Qatar and the United States, critically hitting the economies of EU member states, especially in the midst of winter, explains geopolitical analyst Lyubov Stepushova.
The attack with the Oreshnik in the Lviv region also aims to strengthen Russia’s strategic position in the conflict.
The Oreshnik is a hypersonic weapon, with speed exceeding 10 Mach, and it can penetrate underground structures of several meters in thickness, something that makes it extremely effective for the destruction of underground storage facilities and shelters.
Russia fires Oreshnik hypersonic missile at Lviv, first confirmed strike in western Ukraine
— Boi Agent One (@boiagentone) January 8, 2026
Mayor confirms 6 explosions targeting infrastructure near Poland ?️order
Hypersonic IRBM traveled 1,500km in 7 minutes at Mach 10
No air defense can intercept this weapon system pic.twitter.com/wZE2X8YFYz
Russia sends a message to NATO
Russia, through this attack, made sure to send a clear message to Europe and the United States: “Do not become further involved in Ukraine”.
The strike on Lviv and the ongoing attacks on critical infrastructure inside Ukraine aim to show Europe the strategic superiority of Russia, as Russia’s advanced weapons systems, such as the Oreshnik, cannot be intercepted by NATO defense systems, such as the Patriot.
The Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev emphasized that the Oreshnik constitutes “a weapon of revenge” and warned that Russia will continue to use every strategic means at its disposal to protect its interests.
“These weapons are not meant to frighten, but to send a message.
The West must understand that Russia will not tolerate further provocations and that the attacks will intensify if support for Ukraine does not stop,” Medvedev stated characteristically.
This clear position proves that for Russia the use of the Oreshnik is not simply a military action, but a strategic tool in the confrontation with the West.
“International relations have been in absolute chaos since the beginning of the year” and Russia “must behave accordingly because there are far too many madmen around,” Medvedev observed.
“Such patients are never calmed by the exhortations of polite psychiatrists.
Only nurses with enormous fists and phlegmatic faces can calm them.
After all, dangerous madmen need either a straitjacket or an injection of haloperidol that will save their life.
Like tonight (ed. 9/1) in western Ukraine,” he stated characteristically on his Telegram channel.
Strategic use of Oreshnik, simulation of a nuclear strike
The Oreshnik missile, which can also carry a nuclear warhead, was used in this case without a warhead, however its speed and trajectory make it incredibly destructive.
The Oreshnik develops speeds above 10 Mach, and during the separation of its warheads, they travel through space and return to the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds, creating a “plasma sphere” around them.
Strategic message
The use of these weapons, which have no rival defense systems, shows that Russia possesses strategic assets that can change the course of the war and affect the geopolitical balance.
Russia’s ability to strike critical infrastructure with such precise and powerful weapons gives it a significant advantage in the war, while the absence of a counterattack from NATO strengthens its strategy.
Kaja Kallas, head of European diplomacy, characterized this strike as a “war act” by Russia against Europe and the United States, warning EU countries to strengthen their air defense stockpiles and increase pressure on Russia with tougher sanctions.
The explosive combination of hypersonic missiles and energy strikes makes the situation extremely dangerous for Europe, since Russia assumes the role of the attacker, using advanced weapons and a strategy of provocation.
American former CIA analyst and former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter argues that Western countries should understand the message that Russia is sending with this action, which is nothing other than a warning to stop the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.
According to Ritter, if Western countries ignore the messages sent by Russia, they will risk facing new, more dangerous weapons and threats, with consequences not only for Ukraine but also for their own security.
Russia sent a clear message to the West: Stop the ongoing support of Ukraine, you will pay the consequences.
“If NATO provokes further, the Oreshnik will have a nuclear warhead”
The use of the Oreshnik without a nuclear warhead shows that Russia is ready to proceed with more aggressive strategic actions against targets it considers critical for its security and its dominance in the war.
The attack on Lviv and the destruction of underground infrastructure may be only the beginning of a series of actions that will change the future of the war and geopolitics.
Russia, with the “Oreshnik” attack, sent not only a strategic message, but also a geopolitical warning bell to Europe and NATO.
The Russian missile can strike the United States base at Ramstein in Germany in just 6 minutes, while in 8 it hits London and Paris.
The destruction of critical infrastructure in Ukraine and Russia’s ultra modern missiles constitute a powerful pressure tool that overturns the δεδομένα of the war and makes Europe’s security more vulnerable than ever.
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