Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday issued a stark warning to Ukraine, threatening to target “decision-making centres” in Kyiv with the Oreshnik hypersonic missile. The announcement came just hours after a massive Russian missile and drone barrage pummeled Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, plunging over a million Ukrainians into darkness.
The overnight assault, one of the most intense in recent months, involved over 90 missiles and 100 drones, according to Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as an act of “blackmail” and urged Western allies to respond decisively.
Putin justified the strikes as a “response” to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory using Western-provided weaponry, specifically US-made ATACMS missiles.
Speaking at a press conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, Putin hinted at a significant escalation by naming Kyiv’s government district as a potential target. “We do not rule out the use of Oreshnik against military, military-industrial, or decision-making centres, including in Kyiv,” he declared.
The Oreshnik hypersonic missile, tested on Ukraine just last week, has become a central symbol of Russia’s escalating military capabilities. Putin claimed the weapon, which can reach speeds of approximately three kilometres per second, has the destructive force equivalent to a nuclear strike or a meteorite impact.
“If we fire several of these missiles at once, the results will be devastating,” he said. The hypersonic weapon is being hailed by Russian officials as a game-changer, capable of bypassing even advanced air defence systems.
The latest barrage left large swathes of Ukraine’s western regions in the dark. In Lviv, over half a million residents were without power. Nearby Rivne and Volyn regions also faced significant outages, with 280,000 and 215,000 residents respectively cut off from electricity.
Ukraine’s emergency services reported that the attacks damaged critical infrastructure in 14 regions across the country, further straining the already fragile energy grid. The strikes marked the eleventh major assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure this year, according to the country’s energy ministry.
Rosemary DiCarlo, a senior United Nations official, warned earlier this month that these sustained attacks could make the upcoming winter “the harshest since the start of the war.”
As the nearly three-year conflict rages on, both sides appear to be ramping up their use of advanced weaponry in a bid to gain leverage ahead of United States President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy described Russia’s latest strikes as a “very despicable escalation of Russian terrorist tactics,” highlighting reports of Russia using cluster munitions during the attacks.
In Washington, US President Joe Biden condemned the bombardment and stressed the importance of continued Western support for Ukraine. “This attack is outrageous and serves as yet another reminder of the urgency and importance of supporting the Ukrainian people in their defence against Russian aggression,” Biden said in a statement.
Putin’s comments also included a rare mention of US domestic politics. He expressed cautious optimism about the upcoming Trump administration, describing the former and incoming president as an “intelligent person” who could potentially “find a solution.” However, Putin did not elaborate on what kind of resolution he envisioned.
The capital, Kyiv, experienced a harrowing night as air defence systems intercepted Russian drones and missiles. Loud blasts echoed through the city, forcing residents to seek shelter in underground metro stations.
“The attacks are unrelenting,” said Mykola Petrov, a Kyiv resident sheltering with his family. “Every time the sirens go off, we know the chances of our power coming back shrink.”
The Oreshnik missile has become a focal point of Russia’s rhetoric in recent weeks. Tested in combat for the first time in Dnipro, the missile boasts unparalleled speed and destructive capacity. Putin likened its impact to the temperature of “the surface of the sun,” claiming it could turn anything it struck “into dust.”
Despite these claims, analysts say the missile’s true potential has yet to be fully demonstrated. “This is as much about intimidation as it is about capability,” said military analyst Sergiy Marchenko.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk dismissed Putin’s threats as “a testament to weakness,” emphasizing that the West would not be cowed by Russia’s rhetoric.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to Ukraine, stating that the barrage highlighted the need for continued military and humanitarian aid. “Russia’s aggression will not go unanswered,” Stoltenberg said.
For Ukraine, the latest escalation underscores the immense challenges ahead as winter sets in. Nearly three years of war have left much of the country’s infrastructure in ruins, and Russia’s targeting of energy facilities appears calculated to weaken Ukrainian resolve.
With hypersonic missiles now part of the equation, the stakes have never been higher. Zelenskyy’s government is scrambling to fortify critical infrastructure while appealing for advanced air defence systems from Western allies.
For the Ukrainian people, however, the focus is on survival. “We are cold, we are scared, but we are not broken,” said Lyudmila Ivanovna, a retiree in Lviv.
As the conflict deepens, the question remains: how much more can Ukraine endure, and will the world’s support be enough to tilt the balance in Kyiv’s favour?
