Russia has reportedly employed its nuclear-capable ballistic missile system known as Oreshnik in three separate strikes during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Kremlin claims that this advanced weapon, deemed “state-of-the-art,” possesses the ability to evade interception by modern defense systems.
Most recently, on a Sunday, the missile targeted an undisclosed location in Bila Tserkva, situated within the larger Kyiv region, according to the Ukrainian armed forces. Earlier in January, Oreshnik struck a significant gas depot located in the Lviv region of western Ukraine. The missile was first launched against a facility in the city of Dnipro in 2024, as per Moscow’s reports. Notably, none of these strikes involved a nuclear payload.
The Oreshnik missile, named after the Russian term for hazel tree, is classified as an intermediate-range projectile capable of hitting targets at distances ranging from 3,000 to 5,500 kilometers (1,860 to 3,400 miles). Sergei Karakayev, the commander of Russia’s Strategic Rocket Forces, stated that Oreshnik is capable of reaching targets across Europe. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, recently confirmed the deployment of this missile within Belarus, which is positioned along NATO’s eastern edge. Moscow has communicated that the missile system has officially “entered combat duty.”
Ukrainian sources suggest that the missile was launched from the Kapustin Yar test range, located near Volgograd in southern Russia. In discussions regarding its capabilities, Putin claimed that Oreshnik contains “dozens of warheads, homing warheads.” He emphasized that the missile does not induce mass destruction due to its lack of a nuclear warhead, consequently avoiding nuclear contamination.
Military analysts express concerns that Oreshnik could potentially be outfitted with nuclear warheads in the future. Putin highlighted the missile’s destructive potential, stating that its explosive components can reach temperatures comparable to the surface of the Sun, effectively reducing everything at the epicenter to fine particles. He further asserted that Oreshnik is capable of targeting highly fortified locations situated at considerable depths.
Initial assessments of the missile’s impact during the strike in Dnipro revealed limited damage — characterized by a blown-off building roof and scorched vegetation. Reports from witnesses described a “hellish noise” accompanied by bright flashes of light during the event.
In terms of its speed, Putin has touted Oreshnik’s ability to strike at Mach 10, translating to approximately 2.5 to 3 kilometers (1.5 to 1.5 miles) per second, rendering it ostensibly impervious to contemporary air defenses. While experts acknowledge the missile’s hypersonic capabilities, they note that it lacks the maneuverability commonly associated with typical hypersonic missiles. According to analyst Marcin Andrzej Piotrowski from the Polish Institute of International Affairs, Oreshnik’s warheads, similar to those in traditional intermediate and intercontinental ballistic missiles, ascend until they enter the atmosphere and subsequently reach their targets at hypersonic velocities, though they do not exhibit the maneuvering characteristics that complicate anti-missile defense systems.
In 2024, Putin described Oreshnik as not merely an upgrade of old Soviet technology but rather as a contemporary, cutting-edge system. The U.S. Department of Defense has characterized it as an “experimental” missile based on the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Karakayev added that the missile was developed following a directive from Putin issued in July 2023, further highlighting its strategic importance in the ongoing military engagements.
