The United Kingdom has pledged to develop and supply Ukraine with a new generation of advanced tactical ballistic missiles, in a direct response to Russia's recent use of a hypersonic weapon against civilian areas in western Ukraine. The initiative, code-named Project Nightfall, was announced by the Ministry of Defence late on Sunday, 11 January 2026.
Project Nightfall: A New Strategic Capability for Kyiv
Defence Secretary John Healey stated the UK is determined to arm Ukrainian forces with leading-edge weapons to combat Vladimir Putin's ongoing invasion. The new ground-launched ballistic missiles are designed to have a range exceeding 500 kilometres, enabling strikes deep inside Russian territory.
Each Nightfall missile will carry a conventional 200kg high-explosive warhead and is projected to cost a maximum of £800,000 per unit. The MoD plans an initial production rate of 10 systems per month. The missiles are engineered for high-threat environments with significant electromagnetic interference and can be launched from various vehicles, firing multiple rounds in quick succession before a rapid withdrawal.
Response to Russian Hypersonic Attack on Lviv
The announcement follows Russia's deployment of its 'Oreshnik' hypersonic missile last week, which struck targets in western Ukraine, just 60 miles from the NATO border with Poland. Defence Secretary Healey, who was in Kyiv during the attack, condemned the strike, saying it demonstrated "how Putin thinks he can act with impunity, targeting civilian areas with advanced weaponry."
Russia has claimed the Oreshnik strike was retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on a Putin residence, an accusation firmly denied by Kyiv. The incident has prompted an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, scheduled for Monday, 12 January.
Ukraine's Struggle Amidst Energy Attacks
The UK's new military support comes as Ukraine grapples with a severe humanitarian crisis caused by relentless Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that over the past week, Russia launched 1,100 drones, more than 890 guided aerial bombs, and over 50 missiles of various types.
A major strike on Kyiv on Friday left most of the capital without power and heating during a bitter cold snap. By Sunday, authorities had restored water supplies and partially reinstated electricity and heating, but over 1,000 apartment buildings in Kyiv remained without heat. The situation has left more than a million Ukrainians struggling in dark, freezing conditions.
In other developments, Ukrainian defence intelligence sources, cited by local media, reported that Chechen leader and key Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov is suffering from kidney failure and is undergoing dialysis. President Zelensky also signalled ongoing and future operations against Russia, stating, "every Russian loss brings the end of the war closer."
Separately, the UK government confirmed it is in discussions with NATO allies about bolstering security in the Arctic to counter growing competition from Russia and China, aligning with broader strategic concerns highlighted by the ongoing conflict.
