Ukraine has accused Vladimir Putin of committing another ‘war crime’ following Russia’s launch of a powerful new hypersonic weapon during overnight attacks.
A Russian barrage on Kyiv resulted in at least four casualties, with additional strikes hitting civilian areas in the Lviv region near the Polish border.
The SBU security service in Ukraine unveiled images of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile discovered amid the wreckage in Lviv, declaring the weapon’s use as a war crime.
Ukrainian investigators presented recovered missile fragments, including vital components such as the stabilization and guidance block known as the missile’s “brains.”
According to preliminary findings, the missile was fired from Russia’s Kapustin Yar test site located approximately 900 miles away.
All retrieved items have been designated as evidence and will undergo thorough forensic evaluation, potentially yielding crucial insights into the Russian Oreshnik weapon.
Reports indicate that Europe’s largest gas storage facility was targeted, coinciding with subzero temperatures plunging to -12C overnight.
The SBU asserted that the Kremlin aimed to disrupt essential civilian infrastructure near the EU border amidst harsh weather conditions.
A war crimes case has been initiated under Ukraine’s Criminal Code Article 438, addressing violations of war laws and customs.
The Oreshnik missile, touted by Moscow as a cutting-edge strategic weapon capable of carrying nuclear warheads, has been previously deployed by Russia without explosive payloads, serving as a tool of intimidation.
While the SBU refrained from confirming the missile’s warhead status, the recovered fragments align with a medium-range ballistic strike.
The choice of Lviv for the attack, situated near NATO and EU territories, has sparked concerns among Ukrainian authorities regarding the strike’s intentions.
Security sources suggest that the assault was orchestrated to convey a political message rather than achieve military gains, emphasizing fear as its primary objective.
The SBU is actively pursuing the identification of individuals responsible for planning and executing the strike, seeking to hold them accountable under criminal law.
In recent developments, Prime Minister Keir Starmer engaged in discussions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron concerning Ukraine, Greenland, and Iran.
The leaders acknowledged their collaborative efforts within the Coalition of the Willing and reaffirmed close coordination with the US to secure a peace agreement in Ukraine, condemning Russia’s aggressive actions, including the deployment of an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile in western Ukraine.
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