Missile details and capabilities

The Oreshnik is a Russian intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) capable of reaching speeds exceeding 12,300 km/h, but it is equipped with six warheads, each of which reportedly contains submunitions. The U.S. Department of Defense has identified the Oreshnik as a modification of the RS-26 ‘Rubezh’ intermediate-range missile, and Russia has stated it will begin mass production of Oreshnik missiles in 2024, according to Ukrinform.

The missile’s multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) complicate air defense systems and increase the potential for simultaneous strikes. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed the attack targeted military infrastructure in Kyiv, including the headquarters of the Ukrainian Ground Forces Command and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

Impact of the attack

According to Kyiv’s mayor. Vitali Klitschko. There were 56 injured and two fatalities in the city — Photos showed destroyed apartment blocks and fires at a major shopping mall and market. Ukrainian forces reported intercepting 55 of 90 incoming missiles and 549 of 600 drones during the attack; Sixteen missiles and 51 drones ultimately struck 54 locations, according to Ukrinform.

The Oreshnik attack was preceded by warnings from President Volodymyr Zelensky, who cited intelligence shared by U.S. and European partners. The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine had also issued a warning about a “potentially significant air strike” within the next 24 hours.

Escalation and strategic implications

According to Russian media, the Oreshnik, along with the Kinzhal and Zircon hypersonic missiles, was used for the first time in a single operation — this marks the first time Russia has simultaneously deployed three types of hypersonic weapons in one attack. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that all intended targets were hit and that no civilian targets were attacked.

Ukrainian President Zelensky has described the Oreshnik as a weapon that could change the character of the war. The missile’s speed and multiple warheads increase the challenge for air defenses and raise concerns about escalation. The U.S. has previously identified the Oreshnik as a potential threat to NATO countries due to its range and capabilities.

According to a Reuters report, the Oreshnik had previously been used only once by Russia against Ukraine, in November 2024. This latest attack targeted western Ukraine, near Lviv, a city close to the Polish border.