Ukrainian intel and security service hit one of three Russian Oreshnik launchers at testing site
Photo: Security Service of Ukraine chief Vasyl Maliuk (Zelenskiy_official)
One of Russia's Oreshnik missile systems was destroyed on Russian territory by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), the Defense Intelligence (HUR), and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
During the briefing, commenting on the Oreshnik issue, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Russia had carried out about three launches using this system.
Meanwhile, SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk said that one of the three Oreshnik systems was successfully destroyed at the Kapustin Yar testing site.
"We haven't publicly mentioned this before, but briefly — one of the three Oreshnik systems was successfully destroyed on their (Russian - ed.) territory, at Kapustin Yar, by the HUR, SBU, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It was a very successful operation, and quite some time has passed since then," he said.
Official details of the operation and its results are not being disclosed for security reasons.
What is known about Oreshnik
The Oreshnik is a medium-range, ground-to-ground ballistic missile that, according to available data, can be equipped with either a nuclear or conventional warhead.
Technical details remain limited. Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed the missile can hit targets at speeds of up to Mach 10 (2.5–3 km/s). According to Russian classifications, its range likely reaches up to 5,500 km.
Use of Oreshnik in full-scale war
In November last year, Russia used an Oreshnik-type missile for the first time during the full-scale war, striking the city of Dnipro. According to Ukraine's Air Force, the launch was carried out from Russia's Astrakhan region.
Later, Putin announced that the Russian army had deployed "an entirely new development" — the Oreshnik missile.
