UK Intelligence analyzes Putin's Oreshnik missile
Photo: Putin has several Oreshnik missiles (Getty Images)
The missile Russia used to hit Dnipro is a variant of the RS-26 ballistic missile. Putin has several more of these missiles, the UK Ministry of Defense informs.
According to the report, on November 21, Russia struck a Ukrainian munitions factory in Dnipro, using for the first time an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) codenamed Oreshnik. IRBMs are classified as having a maximum range of 3,000 to 5,500 km. In this case, the missile flew just over 800 km to its target.
Russia exited the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty in February 2019, which previously prohibited the development and production of such weapons. However, the development of the Oreshnik likely predates this withdrawal. The system is highly likely a variant of the Rubezh RS-26 ballistic missile, which Russia first tested in 2011.
As the UK intelligence noted, the missile's warhead was recorded as six groups of six warheads, for a total of 36 submunitions. These submunitions travel at hypersonic speeds (over Mach 5) before impact, which is typical for missiles of this class. All warheads on the IRBM and intercontinental ballistic missiles will travel at hypersonic speeds upon reentering the atmosphere.
"The use of this experimental system against Ukraine was almost certainly intended as strategic messaging following the use by Ukraine of Western missiles into Russia. Russia highly likely only has a handful of Oreshnik missiles, which are yet to enter serial production. This missile is highly likely to be far more expensive than other missiles Russia is currently using against Ukraine," the UK Ministry of Defense explained.
Putin's missile
On November 21, Russia launched a ballistic missile at Dnipro. After that, Putin said that it was allegedly a new Oreshnik missile.
On November 28, Putin announced plans to launch a new strike on Ukraine with a ballistic missile, which he called Oreshnik. "These could be military facilities, defense and industrial enterprises, decision-making centers in Kyiv," the Kremlin leader said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Putin used the new missile because he wanted to disrupt the efforts of newly elected US President Donald Trump to establish peace.
