On November 21, Russia launched its first missile called the Oreshnik (meaning hazelnut tree in Russian) at Ukrainian city of Dnipro. President Vladimir Putin claimed that this attack was in response to Ukraine’s use of U.S. ATACMs ballistic missiles and British Storm Shadows to strike Russian territory withe approval from Western countries. Although Russia has used many missiles against Ukraine since its invasion in February 2022, none are as powerful as the Oreshnik.
Russia’s warning
Russian President had even warned NATO allies, saying that if they continue to support Ukraine’s use of longer-range missiles to strike inside Russia, then the Oreshnik could be used against them as well.
The speed of the Oreshnik
During his speech, Putin smiled as he described the Oreshnik missile and its power. He said that it travels to its target at 10 times the speed of sound, also known as Mach 10. He compared it to a meteorite and claimed that it was immune to any missile defence system. Ukrainian military officials said that it might be even faster, reaching speeds of Mach 11.
Oreshnik’s range
The head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, Gen. Sergei Karakayev stated that the Oreshnik could carry nuclear or conventional warheads and also mentioned that its range is long enough to hit any target in Europe.
What Pentagon has to say about Oreshnik?
The Pentagon described the Oreshnik as an experimental missile, and classified it as an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) based on Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM. The attack on November 21 marked the missile’s first use in combat.
Intermediate-range missiles, such as the Oreshnik, have a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,400 miles). However, such weapons are banned under a Soviet-era treaty between Washington and Moscow. But in 2019, both the countries abandoned the deal.
The missile carries six warheads
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said that the missile carries six warheads, each warhead containing six submunitions. Its warheads, which can each target different locations are like a cluster of hazelnuts on a tree, which might be the reason to name this missile as Oreshnik.
High kinetic energy and force
In a video of the attack, six warheads were seen surrounded by plasma clouds, falling with a fiery fall. Each warhead released six submunitions, which were not armed but had high kinetic energy and force to cause damage equivalent to tons of explosives.
Missile is capable of destroy underground bunkers
As per Putin, the missile is so powerful that even a few of these, fitted with conventional warheads, could cause damage similar to a nuclear strike. He claimed that this weapon is capable of destroying underground bunkers, which are located even 3-4 or even more floors deep. He even threatened to use it against the government area in Kyiv.
The wreckage of the missile
Ukraine’s Security Service shared with The Associated Press the wreckage of the missile, which included burnt and mangled wires and a damaged airframe found at Dnipro’s Pivdenmash plant, which was a place that used to build missiles when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. Fortunately, none was killed in the attack, authorities have not disclosed any details about damage to the plant. They reported that the missile was launched from the 4th Missile Test Range at Kapustin Yar that’s situated in Russia’s Astrakhan region close to the Caspian Sea.
Putin’s warning through the Oreshnik
The Oreshnik was a response of Russia (Putin) to the U.S. and U.K. allowing Ukraine to use the long-range weapons against Russia. He said, “We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities.” Deputy head of Putin’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev said that the Oreshnik could cause catastrophic damage and could hit targets in Europe within minutes. He also warned that even the bomb shelters can’t save them.
A senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security on the Oreshnik
A senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, James J. Townsend said that the use of this missile was an indication of Moscow’s anger with Western long-range missiles and a message to Ukraine and President-elect Donald Trump that Russia would remain committed to its goals regardless of the support for Kyiv. He said, “This is a very powerful message being sent. It’s showing Trump how serious Russia looks on what the Biden administration has been doing and how seriously they look on and how angry they are about this type of assistance.”
Russian state media on Oreshnik missile
Russian state media claimed that the Oreshnik missile could hit an air base in Poland just 11 minutes and NATO’s Brussels’ headquarters in 17 minutes.
Britain’s military expert on the Oreshnik
Britain’s (Chatham House) military expert Mathieu Boulègue stated that the missile is not a game-changer on battlefield, but it works great in psychological warfare, helping the Kremlin’s goal to scare Western audiences.
Oreshnik has ability to strike powerfully anywhere in Europe
The Oreshnik offers the ability to launch a powerful and conventional strike anywhere in Europe. Although it gives the Kremlin a new tool for escalation without using nuclear weapons, there is no way to determine whether the Oreshnik carries a nuclear or conventional warhead until it hits the target.
Kremlin advisor warns of escalation against NATO and U.S.
Sergei Karaganov, a political expert who advises the Kremlin, said, “The enemy must understand that we are ready to take the most resolute steps and strike the territory of NATO members with conventional weapons first. At the same time, we will warn them that if they respond to that attack in an escalatory way, a nuclear strike would come second, and a third wave will target American bases.”
What’s America’s views about the Oreshnik?
Recently, US official said that in coming days, Russia is all set to launch another hypersonic ballistic missile (Oreshnik) in Ukraine. However, Washington does not consider this weapon as a game-changer in the war.
The official was quoted as saying, “We assess that the Oreshnik is not a game-changer on the battlefield, but rather just another attempt by Russia to terrorize Ukraine, which will fail.”
