Who Pays for the War Machine
European leaders condemned Russia’s reported use of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile in strikes on Ukraine, after a large-scale Russian offensive overnight into Sunday left civilian targets and infrastructure in the crosshairs of state violence. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the attack a "reckless escalation" and reaffirmed Germany’s support for Ukraine, while French President Emmanuel Macron said civilian targets in Ukraine had once again come under attack.
Macron described the reported use of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile as a sign of both the deadlock in Russia’s war effort and a dangerous escalation of the conflict. He added that France would continue supporting Ukraine and efforts towards a just and lasting peace. The language of peace sits beside the machinery of war, with ordinary people still absorbing the blast radius.
What the Apparatus Launched
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Moscow launched 90 missiles and cruise missiles as well as around 600 drones. Although many of the targets were intercepted, dozens of hits were still reported. The deployment of the Oreshnik missile came as part of that offensive, and on Sunday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had again deployed its Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, this time in the Kyiv region.
The Russian Defence Ministry later confirmed the launch, saying it came as part of a retaliatory attack following Ukrainian strikes against "civilian targets," which Kyiv has denied. The official line from Moscow presents retaliation as justification, while the people beneath the missiles are left to count the damage.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the massive Russian assault demonstrated "the Kremlin’s brutality and disregard for both human life and peace negotiations." She said terror against civilians was "not strength" but "desperation" and added that the European Union would continue supporting Ukraine, particularly by strengthening its air defence systems. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the attacks as "abhorrent acts of terror" against the Ukrainian civilian population. She said Russia had reached a military dead end and was therefore deliberately targeting city centres. Kallas called the reported use of the Oreshnik missile particularly alarming, describing it as "reckless nuclear brinkmanship."
Range, Reach, and the Threat Above Borders
Russia’s use of the Oreshnik missile has drawn international attention. According to Moscow, the intermediate-range missile is capable of striking targets across large parts of Europe. Moscow says it is an intermediate-range ballistic missile and that it is reportedly capable of hitting targets between 3,000 and 5,500 kilometres away. Russian military officials have claimed this would put large parts of Europe within range. Belarus is also believed to possess the missile system.
The Oreshnik missile’s first known use came in 2024 during an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Since then, the weapon system has become one of the Kremlin’s most closely watched military projects. Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the ballistic missile as a "state-of-the-art."
The attack also reached into the media infrastructure of war. Among the sites damaged was the centrally located studio of German public broadcaster ARD, which was heavily damaged and partially destroyed. According to the broadcaster, a massive blast wave likely caused the destruction, shattering windows and devastating parts of the studio. No one was injured in the attack. At the time of the strike, no employees were inside the building.
EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss further pressure on Russia next week. The familiar ritual of diplomatic response continues, while the missiles, drones, and official statements keep moving through the same hierarchy of command and destruction.