Russia Deploys New ‘Oreshnik’ Ballistic Missile in Strike Against Ukraine

Russia has conducted a significant escalation in its military operations against Ukraine by deploying its new ‘Oreshnik‘ intermediate-range ballistic missile. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Oreshnik missile was used in a strike on the city of Dnipro on November 21, in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory using long-range missiles supplied by the United States and the United Kingdom.

The Oreshnik missile, designed to carry nuclear weapons, was not armed with a nuclear warhead in this instance. However, Putin emphasized that it could be used with nuclear warheads in the future if necessary. The strike was a retaliatory measure following Ukrainian attacks on Russian military facilities in the Kursk and Bryansk regions using ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles.

The Oreshnik missile is characterized by its advanced technology, including the ability to fly at hypersonic speeds of up to Mach 11, making it nearly impossible to intercept by existing missile defense systems. It is also equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), a feature typically associated with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

Experts and analysts have interpreted the use of the Oreshnik missile as a political and psychological tactic by Russia to exert pressure on Ukraine and its Western allies. The missile’s capabilities and the fact that it was used in a combat scenario have raised concerns about the vulnerability of Ukraine’s air defense systems and the potential for further escalation in the conflict.

Putin has announced plans for further tests of the Oreshnik missile in combat conditions and has ordered its serial production, highlighting Russia’s commitment to enhancing its military capabilities in response to perceived security threats.

The use of the Oreshnik missile has also sparked discussions about the need for enhanced missile defense systems in Europe, with many analysts calling for the development of a pan-European missile defense system to counter the growing threat of ballistic missiles from Russia.