Kyiv Security Forum analytics

Western partners and foreign media did not ignore Russia's large-scale missile and drone strike on Ukraine on the night of 9 January. They note that as part of this attack, Russia used the Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile against Ukraine for the second time, which Moscow positions as the latest weapon against Europe that cannot be shot down.

According to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, these strikes show that ‘Putin does not want peace’ and ‘this deadly pattern of repeated large-scale Russian strikes will continue until we (the EU) help Ukraine break it.’

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys also says that Moscow's strikes demonstrate Russia's true attitude towards peace talks.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna points out that this attack is evidence of Putin's ‘nervousness’ in response to the negotiations being conducted by Europeans and Americans with Ukraine.

Reuters and Euronews emphasise that the Oreshnik strike was carried out near the border with NATO and the EU. It is highlighted that Moscow claimed that this was in response to Ukraine's alleged shelling of Putin's residence at the end of last year, which Ukraine has not confirmed, the EU has expressed doubts about, and the US has denied based on intelligence data. 
The Guardian also points out the absurdity of linking the Russian attack to a non-existent attack on Putin.

Politico quotes Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha as saying that the Oreshnik, which is a potential carrier of nuclear warheads, poses a significant threat to European security. Therefore, as The New York Times noted, the use of the missile was ‘an ominous warning to Ukraine and its Western allies.’

The media emphasise that Moscow carried out this attack in the midst of active international efforts led by the United States to end the war. Attention is drawn to the fact that the Qatari Embassy, which also provides active mediation services, was damaged during the missile and drone attack on Kyiv.

The media cite assumptions by Ukrainian journalists and analysts that the target of the Oreshnik strike was Ukraine's gas infrastructure, in particular its gas storage facilities. The Ukrainian authorities do not directly confirm this, limiting themselves to general information about the destruction of a ‘critical infrastructure facility.’ However, if the goal was indeed to destroy the gas storage facility that Ukraine offers for use by the EU and the US, including to ensure American imports of liquefied gas to Europe, this strike can be interpreted not only as a threat to European security, but also as an attack on the economic interests of European states and Washington. The response to Moscow's actions should be not only political, but also in the form of sanctions and military action, in particular through the intensification of long-range weapons supplies to Ukraine.