What is "Oreshnik," and how many such missiles does Russia have
Russia used an experimental ballistic missile in an attack on Dnipro. The United States warned Kyiv in advance, helping to minimize the damage.
Photo: pixabay.com
The U.S. had warned Ukraine about the potential use of an experimental medium-range ballistic missile by Russia during the recent attack on Dnipro. This was reported by CNN, citing an American official. According to the source, the missile features an enhanced warhead; however, Russia likely possesses only a few units of this weapon.
Ukraine, according to the source, continues to endure numerous attacks, including strikes involving more powerful munitions like 1.5-ton glide bombs with high-explosive warheads. Despite the challenges, timely warnings from the U.S. allowed air defense systems to be prepared, minimizing damage from the attack.
The United States confirmed Russia's attack on Dnipro on November 21 using a medium-range ballistic missile. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh made this statement.
According to Singh, Russia used an experimental missile based on the RS-26 "Rubezh." The U.S. was notified of the launch through nuclear incident prevention channels.
The strike was part of Russia's strategy to test new weapons. The incident highlights the escalation in the region and raises concerns about the use of such weapons in the conflict.
Meanwhile, Russian media reported Vladimir Putin's statement about using the newest medium-range missile, "Oreshnik," for the strike on Dnipro. This was reported by Defense Express.
According to the Kremlin leader, it was a test launch. However, independent sources claim that this name conceals the well-known RS-26 "Rubezh" missile.
Analysts suggest that the Kremlin uses such statements to increase informational and psychological pressure on the West. Claims about having "new" weapons create an illusion of unique capabilities that could influence support for Ukraine.
Notably, mentions of the "Oreshnik" missile were previously absent from open sources. This Kremlin approach resembles propaganda stories like the "Zmeyevik," which only existed in Russian media reports.
Experts believe the goal of such statements is to create "strategic uncertainty," aiming to intimidate Western countries and reduce their willingness to provide defensive assistance to Ukraine.
Previously, it was reported that Russia conducted tests of intercontinental Yars missiles as part of strategic nuclear forces checks amidst escalating tensions with the West, the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, and NATO exercises.
It also became known that in the Nizhny Novgorod region, production has begun of "KUB-M" mobile shelters designed for protection against nuclear strikes; their high cost, measured in millions of rubles, is already a topic of discussion.