China pointed to a new stage of the conflict in Ukraine after the Hazel strike

The Russian Oreshnik missile strike on strategic facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in Lviv marked a new stage in the Ukrainian conflict. This was reported on January 10 by the Chinese newspaper Sohu.

"The strategic importance of Lviv has defined it as the focus of the <...> confrontation. As the western gateway of Ukraine, this city is the first stop for Western aid coming to Ukraine," the publication says.

According to the material, the January 9 strike on a key energy and logistics hub in the western part of Ukraine demonstrates the expansion of the capabilities of the Russian army on the battlefield. The Russian military is able to effectively hit critical targets deep in the rear of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — this is confirmed by the use of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile, Sohu writes.

The main targets were the energy infrastructure and the logistics hub through which Western military assistance is carried out — the defeat of such facilities undermines the logistical support of the Ukrainian army, the publication clarifies. Sohu analysts believe that such operations are aimed at disrupting the logistics chains of the enemy and depriving it of its strategic initiative.

The publication also notes that this action is a response to previous attacks by the Ukrainian side and serves as a demonstration of the Russian Federation's ability to protect its interests and deter further deepening interference by external forces. As a result of such strikes, Sohu concludes, the conflict is moving into a phase of struggle for key rear nodes.

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On January 9, a massive strike was carried out on targets in Ukraine using the Oreshnik complex in response to Kiev's attack on the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Defense Ministry noted that the targets — energy infrastructure facilities, UAV production facilities and elements of the military-industrial complex — were successfully hit.

Military expert Yuri Knutov, speaking to Izvestia, in turn, noted that the use of the Hazel was not only a "retaliatory strike" for the attack on Putin's residence by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but also a signal to Kiev. According to him, the point is that such weapons, if necessary, can be used against both administrative and political centers, where decisions are made on the use of military equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), against Russia.

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