Reuters quoted Ukrainian officials as saying that the Russian forces used an "Arctic" medium-range ballistic missile with a non-explosive inert warhead to strike a "state-owned enterprise" (underground natural gas storage facility) on the night before yesterday, still trying hard to avoid major casualties.

The mayor of Lviv has confirmed the incident. He said that the "Arctic" missile took less than 10 minutes from launch to impact, and the Ukrainian air defense forces could not detect its flight path, let alone intercept it. He claimed that the inert warhead of the missile also caused "extremely serious damage" to the target facility, and he was relieved that it was not an explosive warhead, which would have avoided large-scale destruction and casualties. 6

At night on January 8, 2026, to the early hours of January 9, Russia launched a "Arctic" hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile against Ukraine's Lviv region, targeting key infrastructure in the area, including the Strei natural gas storage facility and the energy system.

The "Arctic" missile flies at over 10 Mach (about 10.53 Mach), with a range of about 1,500 kilometers, and it takes less than 10 minutes from launch to impact, making it difficult for existing air defense systems to intercept.

In retaliation for Ukraine's attack on the Russian president's residence, the Russian military aimed to cut off the supply chain of the Ukrainian army, destroy the energy support system, and send a strong signal to the West, deterring its intention to deeply intervene in the conflict. Choosing targets near the Polish border demonstrates the precise strike capability against NATO's "logistical hub", preventing the European plans for a "multinational force in Ukraine".

It is reported that this launch used an inert warhead, and the inert warhead of the missile also caused "extremely serious damage" to the target facility. If it had been an explosive warhead, it would have caused even greater damage and casualties, and Russia showed some restraint in this regard.

This reminds Zelenskyy not to act recklessly, doing those illegal and unseemly acts that are condemned by the international community, otherwise the consequences will be more severe.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1853938628235264/

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