Ukrainian special services destroyed one of Russia’s “Oreshnik” missiles in the summer before last at the Kapustin Yar test range in Russia’s Astrakhan region. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported this during a meeting with the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Maliuk, as aired on the national newscast.
According to Zelensky, the operation was a joint effort carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, and the Foreign Intelligence Service. He said that Russia initially had the capability to conduct three launches, and one of them was used — likely referring to the strike on Dnipro in November 2024.
Zelensky warned that Russia is considering deploying the “Oreshnik” in Belarus. This missile system has a range of up to 5,000 kilometers and a “dead zone” of about 700 kilometers. The president stressed that European partners should pay attention to this threat.
The head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleh Ivashchenko, added that Russia is currently able to produce up to six “Oreshnik” missiles per year.
Ukrainian intelligence previously explained that “Oreshnik” is the name of a Russian research and development project, and that the system itself is likely designated “Kedr.” It is a carrier of nuclear warheads, but for the strike on Dnipro, Russia used it in a non-nuclear configuration. According to military intelligence, as of October, Russia had only two prototype missiles, and no serial production.
Zelensky noted that 25 Russian companies are involved in the production of the “Oreshnik” system, and none of these companies are currently under sanctions.
The “Oreshnik” is a medium-range ballistic missile. According to Ukrainian military data, it can reach speeds exceeding Mach 10 and carries six submunitions. The U.S. Department of Defense classifies the “Oreshnik” as a variant of the Russian RS-26 “Rubezh” missile.
Strike on Ukraine
On November 21, 2024, Russia launched a strike on Ukraine using several types of missiles. Ukraine’s Air Force said there was a strike by an intercontinental ballistic missile, a possibility that Zelensky also mentioned.
The Kremlin later claimed that Russia had tested the “Oreshnik” during that strike. On November 28, Vladimir Putin stated that Russia’s defense ministry and general staff were selecting new targets in Ukraine for the missile, including possible “decision-making centers in Kyiv.”