Russia 'must feel consequences' — Zelensky denounces Oreshnik strike near Poland's border
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Jan. 9 condemned Russia's latest barrage of drones and missiles against Ukraine, which included the second known use of the Oreshnik missile and caused mass blackouts amid freezing temperatures.
The Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile was said to be used in the attack on Lviv, about 60 kilometers (40 miles) from the Polish border. According to Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi, the strike marks the first time in history the city has been attacked with a ballistic missile.
Lviv Oblast Governor Maksym Kozytskyi reported that a critical infrastructure facility in the region was hit.
The deployment of the nuclear-capable missile — which carried no atomic warheads during the attack — was confirmed by both Zelensky and Russia's Defense Ministry.
"A clear reaction from the world is needed," the president said on X.
"Russia must receive signals that it is its obligation to focus on diplomacy, and must feel consequences every time it again focuses on killings and the destruction of infrastructure."
In his evening address, Zelensky reiterated that Russia's deployment of the Oreshnik in western Ukraine signaled a clear threat to Europe.
The attack "was pointedly close to the borders of the European Union," the president said. "In terms of using medium-range ballistic missiles, this poses the same challenge for all: Warsaw, Bucharest, Budapest, and for many other capitals as well."
Zelensky called for "a system of collective defense" to stand up against Moscow.
"Does such a system exist now? That's an open question, because across Europe there is the same doubt — whether their capital would be defended if Putin suddenly lost it."
In Kyiv and the region, the aftermath of the massive Russian strike is still being dealt with. All necessary services are deployed. Twenty residential buildings alone were damaged. Recovery operations after the strikes also continue in the Lviv region and other regions of our… pic.twitter.com/AMkwfKHOkC
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 9, 2026
Russian forces also launched a heavy strike on Kyiv, killing at least four people and knocking out electricity and heat for hundreds of thousands as temperatures fell.
A paramedic was among those killed as a result of a double-tap strike, and 25 victims were injured, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported. Five other medical workers were among the wounded.
According to Zelensky, 20 residential buildings and the Qatari Embassy were damaged in the capital, while the DTEK energy company said 417,000 households were disconnected from electricity.
Overall, Russian forces deployed 242 attack and decoy drones, 13 Iskander or S-400 ballistic missiles, 22 cruise missiles, and the Oreshnik missile, according to Ukraine. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 226 drones and 18 missiles, the Air Force reported.
This is the second time Russia has used Oreshnik in a strike against Ukraine since it was first deployed against Dnipro on Nov. 21, 2024.
Zelensky said he would discuss the latest attack with international partners and convey what response Ukraine needs.
