Russia has largely refrained from using its most advanced missiles during the Ukraine War—likely because it has few of them in storage.
Last week, the Russian military launched its most advanced ballistic missile against a Ukrainian city.
On Thursday, the Russian forces fired an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile against Lviv—marking the second operational use of the munition.
Russia Fired an Oreshnik Ballistic Missile at Lviv
The strike followed standard Russian practice and included hundreds of additional munitions. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the Russian military fired approximately 200 suicide drones, ballistic missiles, and land attack cruise missiles against several Ukrainian cities during the attack. The goal of firing so many munitions is to increase the probability that some will reach their target by saturating the Ukrainian air defenses.
The Oreshnik munition covered nearly 900 miles before it reached its target.
The Russian military very likely has only a few Oreshnik missiles, explaining why it has used them sparingly in the conflict.
In addition to the tactical effect of launching an Oreshnik ballistic missile against Ukraine, the Kremlin had another agenda.
“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 Putin’s residence in Novgorod, Russia, on 29 December 2025,” the British Ministry of Defence assessed in its latest intelligence assessment on the conflict.
Despite the Kremlin’s best efforts to prove that the Ukrainian intelligence services launched suicide drones against his residence at the close of 2025, Moscow failed to convince the international community. The CIA’s intelligence assessment concluded that Russia had fabricated the attack, most likely in an attempt to derail the ongoing peace negotiations and weaken support for Ukraine.
Missile Strikes a “Tool of Terror,” UK Says
British Secretary of Defense John Healy visited Kyiv in the aftermath of the Russian attack to discuss the ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war.
“Russia’s barrage of attacks on Ukraine overnight, including firing an Oreshnik ballistic missile at Lviv, are another attempt by Putin to terrorise Ukraine and threaten Europe’s security. My visit to Kyiv today underlines the UK’s resolute support for a just and lasting peace,” British Defence Secretary John Healy stated from Kyiv.
The UK has been a stalwart supporter of Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression. London has provided key military capabilities to the Ukrainian forces, as well as diplomatic support on the world stage.
“Moscow is trying to use cold weather as a tool of terror, which is why work on additional air defense capabilities for Ukraine is now an urgent priority. We know which partners have the relevant missiles and equipment, and I am sincerely grateful to the United Kingdom for its readiness to help,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on X.
As part of the ongoing peace negotiations, several European countries, including the UK and France, have expressed a willingness to deploy troops in Ukraine as a security guarantee against further Russian aggression after the war is over.
“We also discussed how a British contingent could be deployed to operate alongside French forces if diplomacy works to end the war. It is crucial that the framework for ending the war includes a clear response from the allies should Russian aggression be repeated,” the Ukrainian leader added.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock / Chubykin Arkady.
