Fictional missile ploy: Putin uses "Oreshnik" to alarm West

Vladimir Putin reported that Russia used the new medium-range missile "Oreshnik" in the attack on the Dnieper. Defense Express suggests that this may be an attempt to intimidate the West and limit support for Ukraine. However, the lack of any data about this missile in available sources raises doubts about its existence.

According to reports, Russia tends to create fictional weapon projects. Defense Express claims that such actions may be an attempt to conceal actual ballistic projects. For example, Russia previously used the term "Project 504" for the Kh-101 missiles. "Oreshnik" may therefore be merely a working name for the already known RS-26 "Rubezh" project.

This means that "the Kremlin may use the name »Oreshnik« to create the impression of having new missile capabilities, which aims to intimidate the West." In the context of strategic uncertainty, Defense Express suggests that one should not get drawn into this game and avoid using this name to strengthen Russian blackmail.

Let us recall that the Pentagon confirmed that Russia "launched an experimental medium-range ballistic missile." According to the Americans, the missile was supposedly developed based on the Russian version of the intercontinental ballistic missile RS-26 "Rubezh".

If "Oreshnik" is a completely new weapon (developed based on the RS-26), its specifications are unknown. No documents related to the specifications of this missile are in the public domain.

Difficulties in determining the key specifications also apply to the RS-26 "Rubezh" missile mentioned. This is because the Russians effectively hide a lot of information about it. According to analysts, among the most reliable information is that the launch mass of the RS-26 is known to be 40,000 to 50,000 kilograms—notes Defense Express. The range of this Russian missile is reported to reach up to 6,000 kilometres, while the equipment typically includes four separate warheads, each with a power of 0.3 megatons.