Changes

Russia's second-ever use of the [[Oreshnik]] was a response to three recent provocations. These are the [[CIA]]/[[MI6]]/[[Ukraine]]'s attempted assassination of Putin right before New Year's, [[France]] and the [[UK]]'s official plans to deploy troops to Ukraine if a [[ceasefire]] is agreed to, and the [[US]]' seizure of a Russian-flagged tanker in the [[Atlantic Ocean]].

Russia's second-ever use of the [[Oreshnik]] was a response to three recent provocations. These are the [[CIA]]/[[MI6]]/[[Ukraine]]'s attempted assassination of Putin right before New Year's, [[France]] and the [[UK]]'s official plans to deploy troops to Ukraine if a [[ceasefire]] is agreed to, and the [[US]]' seizure of a Russian-flagged tanker in the [[Atlantic Ocean]].

Reports indicate the Bilche-Volitsko-Uhersky underground [[gas]] storage facility in Stryi was struck,<ref>https://x.com/Megatron_ron/status/2009404753533386785</ref> which has a storage capacity of 17.05 billion cubic meters or more than 50% of the total capacity of all storage facilities in Ukraine and the largest in [[Europe]].<ref>Gas is stored in natural porous sandstones covered by impermeable clay layers: this prevents not only gas leakage but also protects the reservoir from external impact.

Reports indicate the Bilche-Volitsko-Uhersky underground [[gas]] storage facility in Stryi was struck a few minutes before midnite on January 8, 2026,<ref>https://x.com/Megatron_ron/status/2009404753533386785</ref> which has a storage capacity of 17.05 billion cubic meters or more than 50% of the total capacity of all storage facilities in Ukraine and the largest in [[Europe]].<ref>Gas is stored in natural porous sandstones covered by impermeable clay layers: this prevents not only gas leakage but also protects the reservoir from external impact.

The [[infrastructure]] depth ranges from 690 to 890 meters (for comparison: [[American]] bunker-busting bombs [[Belligerents_in_NATO_global_wars#GBU%2057B|GBU-57]], which were used on [[Fordow]] and other facilities in [[Iran]], can penetrate up to 61 meters). But the '[[geological]] structure has its vulnerability: the Bilche-Volytsko-Uherske underground gas storage area is characterized by a complex tectonic structure with many faults.

The [[infrastructure]] depth ranges from 690 to 890 meters (for comparison: [[American]] bunker-busting bombs [[Belligerents_in_NATO_global_wars#GBU%2057B|GBU-57]], which were used on [[Fordow]] and other facilities in [[Iran]], can penetrate up to 61 meters). But the '[[geological]] structure has its vulnerability: the Bilche-Volytsko-Uherske underground gas storage area is characterized by a complex tectonic structure with many faults.

Reports stated Russia notified the US three hours prior to the launch,<ref>https://x.com/disclosetv/status/2009329533477114111</ref> which makes sense because the launch of an [[ICBM]]-like vehicle could be interpreted by early warning missile detection systems as a nuclear first strike. It's clear the US knew well in advance given there was “unusual activity” reported in Kapustin Yar.

Reports stated Russia notified the US three hours prior to the launch,<ref>https://x.com/disclosetv/status/2009329533477114111</ref> which makes sense because the launch of an [[ICBM]]-like vehicle could be interpreted by early warning missile detection systems as a nuclear first strike. It's clear the US knew well in advance given there was “unusual activity” reported in Kapustin Yar.

==References==

==References==