Putin’s new hypersonic ‘Oreshnik’ missile may be unstoppable for Ukraine

The strike on the city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine early Thursday morning (Picture: east2west)

‘I thought it was a nuclear attack’. This is what a resident in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro said after Vladimir Putin’s unleashed ‘Oreshnik’, one of the newest intermediate-range missiles in Russia’s arsenal.

Initially, the weapon was mistaken for a 3,400-mile intercontinental ballistic missile – which would have been a first in the history of the invasion. At the end, it turned out to be something else.

In an address to the nation, the president unveiled his new missile, named ‘Oreshnik’ or ‘Hazel tree’ in Russian.

He said it was a hypersonic ballistic missile, which travelled at 10 times the speed of sound and so could not be intercepted.

Putin further added that the strike in Dnipro was a test launch of the ‘state-of-the-art missile’.

Russian sources said the range was 3,100 miles, allowing the Kremlin to hit most of Europe and the west coast of the United States.

Is this genuine, or just the Kremlin’s latest propaganda tool?

What is the ‘Oreshnik’?

Ivan Stupak, a military expert and ex-SBU officer, disputed most of Putin’s claims about the ‘Oreshnik’.

He told Metro that it is a ‘Soviet-style weapon with an upgraded system’.

‘You know, not all things that Putin says are true,’ Stupak joked. ‘We heard the same claims about the Kinzhal ballistic missiles. He said they could not be intercepted by any European forces.

‘We now know that is is not true. As far as I know, “Oreshnik” is not actually new, but an old-style weapon with an upgraded system.

The sky above Dnipro after the hit (Picture: east2west news)

‘A lot of things in Russia are not developed, just modified from the Soviet Union. They have warehouses full of blueprints, so they are able to revise them.’

Separately, the Pentagon said the missile is based on the ‘RS-26 Rubezh’ intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Can Ukraine stop Russia’s missile?

Stupak believes the ‘Oreshnik’ could be intercepted with the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which Ukraine does not have.

In October, the US sent the anti-missile system, which is designed to stop enemy missiles in their last stage of flight, to Israel.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Russian attack with a new type of ballistic missile was a ‘clear and severe escalation’ and called for worldwide condemnation.

In his nightly video address, he slammed Putin for using his country as a ‘training ground’.

‘Today, our crazy neighbour has once again shown what he really is and how he despises dignity, freedom, and human life in general. And how afraid he is,’ he said.

‘He is so afraid that he is already using new missiles. And he is looking around the world for weapons. Sometimes in Iran, sometimes in North Korea.’

Stupak admitted that Ukrainians are scared about the power of ‘Oreshnik’ and what Putin could do in revenge for the deep strikes targeting his arms depots and command posts in western Russia. 

‘We are scared. During the years of war, we have become used to Russian weapons,’ he said.

‘Iranian-made Shahed drones – fine, we deal with them every night. Kinzhal missiles and others… Fine. I am sorry for my lexicon, but it was a sh*tty night.

‘Some of my friends in Dnipro thought it was a nuclear strike. The sky was shining. And the sound was significantly different from any other they have heard before.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.