The leader of the Security Service of Ukraine said that the country’s forces destroyed a Russian Oreshnik missile during the summer 2023 campaign.
“We have never said this. But now we can briefly say that one of the three Oreshnik missiles was successfully destroyed on Russian territory,” Director of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Vasyl Maliuk said at a press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky today.
He added that the missile was destroyed at Kapustin Yar, Russia’s military training range and missile launch complex in Astrakhan province, “during a successful operation two summers ago”. The operation was coordinated between the forces of the General Intelligence Directorate (GUR), SBU and the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS). However, he did not provide details on how to proceed.
Director of the Intelligence Service of Ukraine (SBU) Vasyl Maliuk in March 2024. Image: Kyiv Post
“It was an extremely successful and 100% destructive operation. This information was reported separately to the President of Ukraine and the Supreme Commander. A number of presidents of other countries were also informed,” Mr. Maliuk said.
He noted that the Ukrainian operation was carried out “when the name Oreshnik was basically unknown to the public and the Russians did not use it as a deterrent at that time”.
Ballistic missiles carrying hypersonic warheads Oreshnik were first used by Russia in the raid on the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine, in November 2024.
Russian officials announced that Oreshnik reached the speed of more than 10 times the speed of sound, equivalent to nearly 11,000 km/h. In addition to high speed, the projectile also applies multiple independent target attack reentry vehicle (MIRV) technology, allowing each missile to carry up to 36 warheads.
Russia describes Oreshnik as a medium-range ballistic missile, while Ukraine calls it an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), and the US identifies Oreshnik as a long-range ballistic missile with a range of 3,000-5,500 km. Russian President Vladimir Putin once asserted that no Western air defense system could block the Oreshnik missile.
Ukrainian intelligence officials said Russia has produced three Oreshnik missiles this year and plans to double annual production to six missiles. President Zelensky said there were 25 companies involved in producing Oreshnik and called on Western partners to impose sanctions on them.
The SBU director announced that Ukraine has carried out nearly 160 successful air strikes on Russian oil exploitation and refining facilities since the beginning of this year. He said the country would continue long-range attacks aimed at undermining Russia’s funding for the campaign.