The Oreshnik was first used in combat on 21 November 2024, when it struck a defence enterprise in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Putin said the launch was authorised in retaliation for Ukraine’s use of U.S.-made ballistic missiles and British-made cruise missiles on Russian territory, following approval from Western allies.
The Russian president warned of potential further strikes, including against “decision-making centres” in Kyiv, should Ukraine continue attacks using long-range Western weaponry. Intermediate-range missiles like the Oreshnik can reach up to 5,500 kilometres, making them capable of targeting locations across Europe and parts of the United States from Russian territory.
Putin has claimed the Oreshnik is impossible to intercept and possesses destructive capabilities comparable to a nuclear weapon. However, some Western analysts have questioned these assertions, with a U.S. official in December describing the missile as experimental and noting that Russia likely holds only a limited number.
Putin also stated last year that Russia could deploy the Oreshnik missile system to Belarus in the second half of 2025. Belarus borders NATO member states Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, raising concerns about further regional tensions.
