Ukrainian security services have accused Vladimir Putin of committing a fresh war crime after debris from a devastating new Russian hypersonic missile was discovered following overnight attacks on civilian areas. The strikes, which killed at least four people in Kyiv and hit the Lviv region near Poland, utilised the nuclear-capable weapon Moscow has heavily promoted.
Missile Fragments Reveal Advanced Weaponry
Ukraine's SBU security service released images of the recovered missile components, identified as belonging to the Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile. Among the fragments were what investigators described as the "brains" of the weapon – its stabilisation and guidance block.
The SBU stated the recovered parts included the unit responsible for flight control and targeting, engine components, and fragments of the orientation mechanism. Preliminary analysis indicated the missile was launched from Russia’s Kapustin Yar test site, approximately 900 miles away. All items have been classified as evidence for detailed forensic examination, which could yield vital intelligence on the Russian weapon.
Targeting Civilian Infrastructure in Extreme Cold
Ukrainian officials assert the missile was used against civilian infrastructure, not military targets, at a moment of extreme vulnerability. The attacks coincided with a severe cold snap, with temperatures plunging to -12C overnight.
Reports suggest Europe's largest gas storage facility was targeted. The SBU accused the Kremlin of attempting to cripple crucial civilian infrastructure near the EU border amid a "sharp deterioration in weather conditions." Investigators have consequently opened a war crimes case under Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.
A Political Signal of Fear
The location of the strike in the Lviv region, close to NATO and EU territory, has raised significant alarm. Security sources indicate the attack was designed to send a political signal rather than achieve a military breakthrough. "This was not about the front line," one Ukrainian official said privately. "It was about fear."
The Oreshnik has been touted by Moscow as a 'new-generation' strategic weapon capable of carrying nuclear warheads, though analysts often question its battlefield value. Russia has previously used such launches without explosive warheads as terror weapons.
The SBU is now working to identify all individuals involved in organising and carrying out the strike to hold them criminally responsible. The discovery comes as Western leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, condemned the escalation. A Downing Street spokeswoman said Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed Russia’s attacks were "escalatory and unacceptable."
