Ukraine war briefing: Oreshnik missile sparks anger at UN security council

"The US and Britain have condemned Russia for dropping a nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missile on Ukraine. At an emergency meeting of the UN security council, Tammy Bruce, US deputy ambassador, called the Lviv strike a dangerous and inexplicable escalation. Britain's acting UN ambassador, James Kariuki, called the attack reckless, adding that it threatens regional and international security and carries significant risk of escalation and miscalculation."

"Russia claimed the Oreshnik targeted an aviation repair factory. Ukraine has not confirmed what was hit but said the missile struck during a wider attack using drones and other rockets. The rarely used, multiple warhead Oreshnik missile is thought to be in limited supply Ukraine's military and special forces claim to have destroyed at least one of them on the ground in Russia."

"Observers have rated the two Oreshnik strikes so far on Ukraine as largely political and symbolic, with dummy warheads probably used, and any damage caused by their sonic boom and physical impact rather than live explosives. Analysts have questioned whether the Oreshnik is accurate enough to deliver non-nuclear bombs, which have to be more closely targeted than nuclear warheads to be effective."

Russian forces launched an Oreshnik ballistic missile at Lviv and conducted attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv, killing at least two people in Kharkiv and injuring three. US and UK envoys condemned the Lviv strike as a dangerous, inexplicable escalation that threatens regional and international security and risks miscalculation. Russia said the Oreshnik targeted an aviation repair factory; Ukraine said the missile struck during a wider attack using drones and rockets but did not confirm specific damage. The rarely used, multiple-warhead Oreshnik appears limited in supply; observers judge prior Oreshnik strikes largely political and likely used dummy warheads. Ukraine reports destroying at least one Oreshnik on the ground in Russia. Russia also bombed two civilian food-carrying ships in the Black Sea. Kyiv buried medic Sergiy Smolyak, killed during rescue efforts after a drone- and rocket-led attack.

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