Berlin Strongly Condemns Russia’s Oreschnik Missile Attack on Ukraine
Berlin, Germany – The German government has vehemently condemned Russia’s recent attack on Ukraine using the new Oreschnik intermediate-range hypersonic missile. Deputy Government Spokesman Steffen Meyer stated on January 9, 2026, that Russia has ‘escalated further without provocation’ by targeting civilian energy infrastructure in Lviv, Ukraine.
Meyer described the attack as ‘symbolic threats intended to instill fear, but they will not work. Russia’s behavior in this instance is too transparent.’ He further dismissed Russia’s justification for the attack, which claimed to be in response to an alleged assault on President Vladimir Putin’s residence, as a ‘pure maneuver’ and ‘already debunked.’ Meyer emphasized that the attack ‘changes nothing in our determination to continue to stand closely by Ukraine’s side and to provide comprehensive support.’
International Outcry and Ukrainian Response
The attack has drawn widespread international condemnation. European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, jointly denounced the use of the Oreschnik missile as ‘escalatory and unacceptable.’ Starmer noted that Russia used ‘invented accusations’ to justify the assault.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called Russia’s justification ‘absurd,’ stating, ‘It is absurd that Russia tries to justify this attack with the fake ‘attack on Putin’s residence’ that never happened.’ Sybiha warned that ‘Putin is using an intermediate-range missile near the EU and NATO border in response to his own hallucinations – that is truly a global threat.’
The Ukrainian domestic intelligence service SBU classified the night-time Russian attack on the western Lviv region as a war crime. The SBU stated that ‘the Kremlin is trying to destroy the vital infrastructure of the region amidst drastically worsening weather conditions’ by targeting civilian objectives near the EU border. The SBU also released images of missile debris, including engine parts, nozzles, and the guidance unit.
Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Concerns
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a ‘clear reaction from the world community’ following the massive Russian attacks, particularly from the USA, ‘whose signals Russia truly pays attention to.’ He stated that Russia must be signaled ‘that it is its duty to focus on diplomacy’ and ‘must feel consequences every time it again focuses on killings and the destruction of infrastructure.’
Zelenskyy believes Russia is attempting to render major Ukrainian cities uninhabitable during the winter by targeting energy facilities. He urged all city administrations to be prepared and protect citizens, as many attacked cities face power, water, and heating outages.
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is negotiating with Russia and Ukraine for a limited ceasefire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to repair a damaged power line. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi reported that the last 330-kilovolt emergency line was damaged in fighting on January 2, leaving the plant, occupied by Russian troops, reliant on a single 750-kilovolt main line. A ceasefire is necessary for Ukrainian technicians to carry out repairs.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also highlighted that Ukraine is ‘on the brink of a humanitarian energy crisis,’ accusing Russia of ordering the heaviest attacks on civilian infrastructure in the fourth winter of the war. Merz reiterated that Germany aims to end the war, but this is only possible with genuine security guarantees for Ukraine from the US and Europe.
Diplomatic Efforts and Future Outlook
Discussions regarding a ceasefire and security guarantees for Ukraine are ongoing. In Paris, a meeting of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ took place, with European heads of state and government, representatives from the EU, NATO, the US, and Ukraine participating. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz offered Germany’s military involvement in securing a potential ceasefire, suggesting that ‘this could include, for example, that after a ceasefire, we register forces for Ukraine in neighboring NATO territory.’
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and the UK are prepared to send soldiers for a multinational force to Ukraine after a ceasefire, as a security guarantee. The EU has also pledged politically and legally binding security guarantees to Ukraine once a ceasefire with Russia is reached, offering on-site personnel and financial support.
However, significant disagreements remain, particularly concerning territorial issues. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy acknowledged that despite progress in peace talks, unresolved points remain regarding territory. The US is urging Kyiv to withdraw its troops from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to achieve peace with Russia, a demand Ukraine rejects, as Moscow has stated its intention to conquer these territories militarily anyway.
The ongoing conflict continues to have severe humanitarian consequences. In Kyiv, at least three people were killed and 13 injured in Russian attacks. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that approximately half of all residential blocks in Kyiv are without heating, affecting around 6,000 buildings, and urged residents to temporarily leave the city if they have alternative accommodation with power and heating elsewhere.
In Russia, a Ukrainian drone attack in the Belgorod border region reportedly caused power and heating outages for hundreds of thousands of people. Regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov stated that 556,000 people in six municipalities were without power due to the ‘night-time attack by the enemy on the supply infrastructure.’
The international community remains focused on finding a resolution to the conflict while providing ongoing support to Ukraine and condemning Russia’s actions.
