Ukraine Plans War Crime Investigation After Russia's Use of Hypersonic Missile

Ukraine is pressing forward with an investigation into Russia's recent use of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile against civilian infrastructure, which Ukrainian authorities are labeling as a potential war crime. This development has prompted stern condemnations from the leaders of the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, who characterized the attack as "escalatory and unacceptable." Russian forces launched the Oreshnik missile on Friday, targeting critical infrastructure in Lviv, a city located approximately 60 kilometers from the borders of the European Union and NATO, raising alarms about the security of the region. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer underscored the seriousness of the situation, stating that Russia appears to be using fabricated claims to justify its aggression, as noted by a UK government spokesperson following calls between the three nations' leaders. In response to these missile strikes, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha revealed that Kyiv intends to initiate international action, urging an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council along with discussions involving the Ukraine-NATO Council. He expressed deep concerns about the implications of such strikes so close to the borders of NATO and the EU, characterizing it as a significant threat to security in Europe and a critical test for the transatlantic alliance. "We demand strong responses to Russia's reckless actions," he emphasized in a post on X. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also condemned the attack, suggesting that it was meant to intimidate Europe and the United States. "Putin doesn't want peace; Russia's reply to diplomacy is more missiles and destruction," Kallas stated emphatically on X. In contrast, Russia admitted to the use of the Oreshnik missile, claiming it was a response to alleged Ukrainian attempts to target Russian President Vladimir Putin's residence the previous month—claims that both Kyiv and US officials, including President Donald Trump, have denied. The CIA has assessed that Ukraine did not target the residence as Russia claims. Moreover, Kirill Dmitriev, an aide to Putin and key negotiator with the US, responded to Kallas's comments with derision on X, stating, "Kaja Kallas is not very bright or knowledgeable, but even she should know that there are no air defenses against the Oreshnik hypersonic Mach 10 missile." The Oreshnik, which translates to "hazelnut tree" in Russian, represents one of Moscow's cutting-edge weapons intended to strike distant targets with high precision, and it can potentially be equipped with nuclear warheads. Reports indicate that the missile used in Friday's attack was equipped with inert warheads, suggesting that the strike may have been largely symbolic. This was not the first deployment of the Oreshnik, as it was similarly used in an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in November 2024. Russian state media had claimed that the Oreshnik could reach a Polish air base in just 11 minutes and NATO headquarters in Brussels in 17 minutes, underlining the missile’s rapid strike capability. Authorities in Lviv confirmed that the missile strikes inflicted damage on critical infrastructure, although details have been limited. Initial social media reports hint at the targeting of a large underground gas storage facility. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has released imagery purporting to show missile fragments recovered from Lviv, stating they are examining Russia's actions under the context of war crimes as defined in Article 438 of Ukraine's Criminal Code. In related developments, the situation in Kyiv deteriorated further overnight, as a massive missile and drone attack resulted in four fatalities and 24 injuries, with a paramedic among those killed. Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that victims were affected by a 'double-tap strike'. The assault on Kyiv has severely impacted the city's heating capabilities, leaving nearly 6,000 apartment buildings without heating amid freezing temperatures that plunged to minus 16 degrees Celsius. Municipal services are working to restore heating and power to essential facilities such as hospitals and maternity wards, but they are urging residents to find temporary accommodations if possible. This latest wave of attacks has been labeled one of the most damaging for Kyiv's infrastructure, leading to water supply disruptions and emergency power outages as the municipality scrambles to stabilize the situation. "We are doing everything we can to resolve this as quickly as possible. However, I appeal to the residents of the capital who have the opportunity to temporarily leave the city for places with alternative resources to do so," Mayor Klitschko said. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2