Russia’s defense ministry said the assault was retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian attack on Putin’s residence on Dec. 29 — a claim that Kyiv has denied.
“It is absurd that Russia attempts to justify this strike with a fake ‘Putin residence attack’ that never happened,” Ukraine’s Sybiha said on X. “This is further proof that Moscow does not need real reasons for its terror and war.”
In addition to the Oreshnik missile, the Russian attack included 13 other ballistic missiles, 22 cruise missiles and 242 drones, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X. He said the strikes targeted energy facilities and civilian infrastructure.
Zelenskyy also said a building of the Embassy of Qatar was damaged by a Russian drone.
“A clear reaction from the world is needed,” the Ukrainian leader said. “Above all from the United States, whose signals Russia truly pays attention to.”
Ukraine’s Western Air Command said in a Facebook post that the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile that struck Lviv was traveling at nearly 13,000 kilometers per hour, with social media reports indicating the strike occurred only minutes after air-raid sirens sounded.