Russia used its new Oreshnik missile in a strike on a munitions factory in Dnipro, Ukraine on November 21. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the missile as a hypersonic ballistic weapon capable of extreme precision and destruction.
New footage of Oreshnick
Russia lethal missile that flys 10 times faster that the speed of sound!
Creates a heat temperature of thousands degrees that turns everything into dust, and reaches a depth of 12 meters into the ground. Able to be armed with nuclear war heads too. pic.twitter.com/bE8cGbCO74— bad hombre 💎 (@Samuel303261374) November 29, 2024
The Oreshnik missile, reportedly an advanced variant of the RS-26 Rubezh, features six independently targetable warheads. Putin emphasized its capability to reach temperatures exceeding 7,000°F (4,000°C), reducing targets to ash and penetrating underground structures. Despite being equipped with conventional warheads, Putin likened its destructive power to that of a nuclear weapon when multiple missiles are used.
Analysts have noted similarities between the Oreshnik and the RS-26, a missile initially shelved in 2018. Western experts, including the UK Ministry of Defence, have classified it as an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) with a range of up to 5,800 kilometers (3,600 miles). This places most of Europe within striking distance.
The strike in Dnipro caused localized damage but did not result in widespread devastation.
The attack was in response to Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied long-range missiles, such as the Storm Shadow and ATACMS. According to reports, these missiles, while effective on the battlefield, lack the Oreshnik’s range and multi-warhead capabilities.
Experts suggest Russia’s deployment of the Oreshnik is intended to signal its technological prowess to NATO and European allies while escalating pressure on Ukraine.
