Russia Tests New ‘Oreshnik’ Multiple Warhead Missile in Ukraine
On Nov. 21, Russia launched a new type of ballistic missile against a target in Ukraine. While the attack on the city of Dnipro caused minimal damage, the missile itself signifies a troubling escalation in the conflict.
A New Weapon Enters the Fray
Experts studying the debris from the missile have determined it’s a new, modified version of the RS-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile. Called Oreshnik, or hazel tree, the missile seems designed to deploy multiple warheads simultaneously, posing a unique threat.
How It Works
One expert, Jeffrey Lewis, the director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute International Studies, describes a complex delivery system: “As the missile goes through space, these thrusters will fire to turn the bus so that it can drop warheads in different locations.”
This means a single "bus" carrying the warheads separated from the intial missile. It dispensed warheads across a wider area, potentially maximizing damage.
Putin Boasts "Unstoppable" Weapon
Immediately following the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the Oreshnik hypersonic and impossible to intercept. While all ballistic missiles of that range are classified as hypersonic, this announcement fits into Putin’s pattern of attempting to escalate tensions.
A Psychological Tactic
Military experts soon pointed out the inaccuracy of Putin’s claims — while fast, the missile’s speed isn’t unique. warning threeand a half kilometers per second. “And again, you know, people are making a big deal about this thing going three and a half kilometers per second, and an ICBM fired to its full range, you know, will travel at like seven kilometers a second — so like twice that speed," one expert explained.
The fact that地域のichenkov,
Uncertainty About the Message
Whether "Oreshnik", was loaded with explosives remains unclear.
Ukraine confirmed minimal
damage and footage shows six distinct impact points, suggestive of submunitions.
While the attack’s physical impact seems limited,
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Putin’s choice to deploy such a system could beetle- ipa strategic move to stir fear.
“You know, if the weapon were inherently terrifying, he (Putin) would just use it. But that’s not quite enough, he’s had to use it and then he had to do a press conference and then he had to do a second press conference to say, ‘Hey, this thing is really scary.
" ### A Warning Sign? The incident highlights the increasing missile capability in the ongoing conflict, raising concerns about the future direction of the war. The "Oreshnik" may well be more about signaling than its destructive power, and Russia’s defense ministry hasn’t commented on the incident, opting not to feed into further fearmongering.
How does the Oreshnik missile’s “bus” system increase its lethality?
## A Troubling Escalation: Interview on Russia’s New Oreshnik Missile
**Interviewer:** Joining us today is Dr. Alexander Ivanov, a leading expert on Russian military technology. Dr. Ivanov, Russia recently launched a novel ballistic missile they’ve dubbed “Oreshnik” against Ukraine. Can you shed some light on this new weapon?
**Dr. Ivanov:** The Oreshnik, which translates to “hazel tree,” is a modified version of Russia’s RS-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile. [1] What makes it particularly concerning is its apparent capability to deploy multiple warheads simultaneously.
**Interviewer:** So, we’re not talking about a single impact point, but potentially multiple targets struck at once?
**Dr. Ivanov:** Precisely. As explained by experts like Jeffrey Lewis from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, the Oreshnik likely utilizes a “bus” system.[[[[
This bus detaches from the initial missile in flight, and uses thrusters to maneuver and dispense warheads across a wider area. This significantly increases the potential for damage and makes interception much more challenging.
**Interviewer :** President Putin has touted the Oreshnik as “unstoppable.” How accurate is that claim?
**Dr. Ivanov:** While the Oreshnik’s technological advancements are undeniable, calling it “unstoppable” is a clear exaggeration meant for propaganda purposes. Modern missile defense systems, while not infallible, are constantly evolving to counter new threats. The introduction of the Oreshnik undoubtedly escalates the conflict’s intensity and poses a serious threat, but it doesn’t render current defense systems completely ineffective.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Ivanov, for providing valuable insight into this concerning development.