Ukraine calls emergency UN, NATO meetings after Russia’s Oreshnik strike

Ukraine has called for urgent sessions of the United Nations Security Council and the Ukraine–NATO Council following Russia’s reported use of a medium-range ballistic missile, dubbed Oreshnik, in the Lviv region.

“Russia claims it used an intermediate-range ballistic missile, so-called Oreshnik, against the Lviv region,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X.

“Such a strike close to EU and NATO borders is a grave threat to security on the European continent and a test for the transatlantic community. We demand strong responses to Russia’s reckless actions,” he added.

Sybiha said Ukraine was informing the United States, European partners, and all countries and international organisations of the details of the strike through diplomatic channels.

“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,” Sybiha said.

He described the missile launch as a global threat. “Putin uses an IRBM near EU and NATO borders in response to his own hallucinations — this is truly a global threat. And it demands global responses.”

Sybiha also called for tougher measures against Russia’s oil revenues and tanker fleet. “There needs to be stronger steps against the Russian tanker fleet — and the U.S. 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. We urge all responsible states and international organisations to call out Russian lies and increase pressure on the aggressor without delay.”

He said Ukraine would take immediate international action. “We will be initiating international action — an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council, as well as responses within the EU, Council of Europe, and OSCE,” Sybiha said.

The Russian military claimed it had launched its hypersonic Oreshnik missile at a target in Ukraine in retaliation for what it described as an attempted Ukrainian drone attack on one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences, a claim Kyiv has dismissed as false.

This marks the second time Russia has deployed the intermediate-range Oreshnik, a missile that President Putin has boasted is impossible to intercept due to its reported speed of over ten times the speed of sound.

Russia first used its Oreshnik hypersonic missile in combat on November 21, 2024, when it struck a defence‑industrial facility in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro during the ongoing war.

By Aghakazim Guliyev