A residential block damaged by Russian strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine, January 9, 2026
Thursday’s Coverage: Zelensky — We Await Details of Security Guarantees
UPDATE 1215 GMT:
The toll has risen to five murdered and 24 injured in Kyiv by Russia’s overnight missile and drone strikes.
Serhii Smoliak, a 56-year-old medic, was killed by Russia in Kyiv last night.
Russia launched a second attack on the same building just as medics arrived to help the victims of the first attack.
Deepest condolences.
Four more medics were injured by the strike. https://t.co/nuX8mVebYQ pic.twitter.com/j8cI6OPkWi
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) January 9, 2026
UPDATE 1209 GMT:
Ukrainian officials are displaying fragements of the hypersonic Oreshnik IRBM fired by Russia on Lviv late Thursday:
Ukrainian Security Service has demonstrated the pieces of Oreshnik that Russia used to attack Lviv region.
The parts found so far:
▪️ stabilization and guidance unit (the missile's "brains", essentially);
▪️ spare parts from the engine installation;
▪️ fragments of the… https://t.co/Tk9XwcSfAf pic.twitter.com/KHsMvoE6tE— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) January 9, 2026
UPDATE 0948 GMT:
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has commented on Russia’s overnight strikes:
A clear reaction from the world is needed. Above all from the United States, whose signals Russia truly pays attention to. Russia must receive signals that it is its obligation to focus on diplomacy, and must feel consequences every time it again focuses on killings and the destruction of infrastructure.
Today’s strike also serves as a very loud reminder to all our partners that supporting Ukraine’s air defense is a permanent priority. Not a single day can be lost in deliveries, in production, or in agreements.
In Kyiv and the region, the aftermath of the massive Russian strike is still being dealt with. All necessary services are deployed. Twenty residential buildings alone were damaged. Recovery operations after the strikes also continue in the Lviv region and other regions of our… pic.twitter.com/AMkwfKHOkC
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 9, 2026
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said work is underway to restore power to more than 500,000 consumers.
“The enemy purposefully attacked district boiler houses – this is energy terror and an attempt to turn winter into a weapon,” she posted.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said half of the city’s apartments are without heat supply: “We are doing everything to [restore supply] as soon as possible. But the combined attack on Kyiv last night was the most painful for the capital’s critical infrastructure facilities.”
UPDATE 0936 GMT:
Russia has confirmed that it fired a hypersonic Oreshnik intermediate range ballistic missile on Lviv in western Ukraine late Thursday.
The Russians declared that they were aiming at a critical infrastructure target, in their second use of the Oreshnik. Moscow also attacked civilian sites with another 35 missiles and 242 drones.
Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted:
It is absurd that Russia attempts to justify this strike with the fake “Putin residence attack” that never happened. Another proof that Moscow does not need any real reasons for its terror and war.
Putin uses an IRBM near EU and NATO border in response to his own hallucinations — this is truly a global threat. And it demands global responses.
There needs to be more strong steps against Russian tanker fleet—and the US is right to take action here — as well as Russia’s oil revenues, schemes, and its assets. Not only in the EU but across the world.
Russia claims it used an intermediate range ballistic missile, so-called “Oreshnik”, against Lviv region.
Such a strike close to EU and NATO border is a grave threat to the security on the European continent and a test for the transatlantic community. We demand strong responses…
— Andrii Sybiha (@andrii_sybiha) January 9, 2026
Sybiha added that the Russians damaged the Qatari Embassy in Kyiv, calling on Gulf States “to respond through diplomatic channels and publicly to Russia’s irresponsible and dangerous actions”.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: At least four civilians have been murdered, including a paramedic, and 19 injured in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv by Russia’s overnight missile and drone attacks.
The paramedic was slain by a “double tap” attack, in which a second Russian strike targeting those responding to an initial explosion. Four other emergency personnel were wounded.
Residential buildings in the Pechersk and Desnianskyi districts were damaged, and a fire broke out in the Shevchenkivsky district. Running water and electricity have been disrupted.
The first explosions were reported around 11:45 p.m., after the UKraine Air Force warned of a ballistic missile threat and incoming drones. Another missile threat was reported around 2:13 a.m., and cruise missile explosions began 45 minutes later.
Three people killed and six more injured by the Russian attack on Kyiv tonight.
The attack continues, Russian drones are all over the city, Kalibr missiles expected to strike soon. https://t.co/XSOLNpb4U9 pic.twitter.com/jrnRNa3Vpx
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) January 9, 2026
Russia also launched a missile strike on Lviv, the major city in western Ukraine, on Thursday night. The Ukrainian military reported that the missile was launched from the Kapustin Yar range in Russia’s Astrakhan region.
Kapustin Yar is a known launch site for Russia’s Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned just before the attacks:
Right now, Russia is betting more on winter than on diplomacy — on ballistic missiles against our energy system rather than on working with the United States and agreements with President Trump. This must change – through pressure on Russia and continued support for Ukraine.
Another massive Russian attack may happen tonight. It is important to pay attention to air raid alerts and go to shelters when necessary. The Russians haven’t changed one bit. They are trying to exploit the harsh winter weather, which has worsened significantly across many of our… pic.twitter.com/gWFBNbQGYM
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 8, 2026