Russia Intensifies Ukraine War With Oreshnik Missiles

Russia Intensifies Ukraine War Using Oreshnik Missile

Why in the News ?

Russia launched one of its heaviest missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, using the Oreshnik hypersonic missile near Kyiv. The strike escalated concerns over the war and raised fears of growing military confrontation in Europe, with experts calling for application of the precautionary principle in preventing further escalation.

Massive Russian Assault On Kyiv

• Russia carried out a large-scale overnight attack on Kyiv and nearby regions using hundreds of drones and missiles, requiring ex post facto analysis of the strategic implications.
• The assault reportedly killed several civilians and injured nearly 100 people, causing heavy destruction to residential areas and schools, with significant environmental damage requiring future environmental clearances for reconstruction efforts.
• Important cultural sites, including Kyiv’s National Art Museum and Philharmonic Hall, were also damaged during the strikes, necessitating comprehensive environmental impact assessment before restoration work can begin.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the United States and European nations to respond strongly against Russia, invoking principles of environmental democracy and the polluter pays principle for war-related damages.
• Ukrainian officials described the attack as a war not only against territory but also against Ukraine’s culture, memory, and identity, emphasizing the need for retrospective environmental clearances to assess long-term ecological damage.

Oreshnik Missile And Global Reactions

• Russia used the Oreshnik hypersonic missile, an intermediate-range weapon capable of carrying nuclear warheads, raising concerns about maintaining a pollution free environment in the region.
• This was only the third reported use of the Oreshnik missile since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with international observers conducting post facto evaluations of its strategic implications.
• The missile has a range of several thousand kilometres, increasing concerns about strategic escalation in Europe and the need for stronger environmental jurisprudence in conflict zones.
• European countries such as Germany and United Kingdom criticised the attack as dangerous nuclear brinkmanship, referencing principles similar to those established in the Vanashakti judgment regarding accountability.
• Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, called the strike a reckless political scare tactic by Moscow, emphasizing the importance of EIA notification protocols for post-war reconstruction planning.