Russia Deploys Hypersonic Missile in Latest Strikes on Ukraine

Ukrainian rescuers work to extinguish a fire in a heavily damaged residential building following Russian drone and missile attacks in Kyiv early on Jan. 9.

Russia has launched a new wave of large‑scale attacks across Ukraine, including the use of a hypersonic ballistic missile, marking one of the rare occasions this advanced weapon has been deployed since the war began. The overnight barrage involved drones and multiple types of missiles, striking cities across the country and causing casualties in Kyiv.

Russian officials said the hypersonic missile was fired in response to what they described as a Ukrainian drone attempt on the Kremlin, a claim Ukraine and Western governments have dismissed. The missile reportedly targeted infrastructure in western Ukraine, where local authorities confirmed significant damage.

Hypersonic missiles travel at extreme speeds and are difficult for current air‑defense systems to intercept, raising renewed concerns about the evolving technological dimension of the conflict. The strike comes amid harsh winter conditions and ongoing discussions among Ukraine’s allies about long‑term security support.

Ukrainian leaders have condemned the attack and called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, warning that the use of such weapons poses a growing threat to global stability.