Russia has utilized its advanced Oreshnik ballistic missile for the second time in combat, striking critical infrastructure in Ukraine's western Lviv region on January 8, 2026. This deployment follows its first confirmed use on November 21, 2024, when it targeted the PA Pivdenmash facility in Dnipro. The Oreshnik, whose name translates to 'hazel shrub,' is an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that Moscow describes as a 'state-of-the-art' weapon. It is a nuclear-capable variant of the RS-26 Rubezh missile system. A defining characteristic of the Oreshnik is its reported hypersonic speed, exceeding Mach 10 (over 12,300 km/h), making it exceptionally challenging for existing air defense systems, including advanced platforms like Patriot, to intercept. Furthermore, the missile employs Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, allowing it to carry up to six warheads, each capable of deploying submunitions and striking different targets simultaneously. This technology has historically been associated with nuclear weapons. While the Oreshnik is nuclear-capable, reports from both the Dnipro and Lviv strikes suggest it was armed with conventional or even dummy warheads, indicating a potential psychological warfare tactic or a strategic warning rather than an intent for mass destruction. Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed its destructive power, even with conventional payloads, is comparable to a nuclear weapon, though some Western experts express skepticism about the full extent of these claims, particularly if non-explosive warheads are used. The missile is typically launched from Russia's Kapustin Yar testing range. The recent use near NATO borders has prompted calls for international action and raised significant concerns about European security and the evolving nature of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.