What is known about the Oreshnik: characteristics of the ballistic missile

The Russians say they have struck Lviv with the Oreshnik missile, and Ukraine is already initiates an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Prior to this, the Oreshnik had only been used once – against Dnipro in 2024.Why is there so much attention on this weapon? We explain its characteristics and approximate cost in this article.What is known about the Oreshnik missileAt night, the enemy launched a missile strike on infrastructure facilities in Lviv, according to the Air Force. One of the missiles was traveling at a speed of about 13,000 kilometers per hour along a ballistic trajectory. The type of missile has not yet been determined, but the Russians have already stated that they used the Oreshnik.The Oreshnik ballistic missile is a modern development that is actively used for military purposes. It belongs to the medium-range complex and was first publicly disclosed in 2024. According to The New York Times, this weapon is capable of hitting targets at a considerable distance and has a high level of accuracy.The Oreshnik complex is based on the Soviet-designed Universal solid-fuel missile. Its modernization resulted in the Topol-M, and later the intercontinental missile Rubezh and its medium-range version, Oreshnik.Attention to the new development increased after statements about the possibility of Oreshnik strikes on critical infrastructure in Ukraine. It is known that the complex is part of the aggressor country's strategic arsenal and has already demonstrated its effectiveness in exercises and combat operations.Characteristics of the Oreshnik missileThe well-known characteristics of the ballistic missile are as follows:Range: up to 3,000 km, allowing it to strike strategically important targets.Speed: over Mach 5, which is about 6,000 km/h.Weight. The missile weighs over 10 tons, of which 1,500 kg is the warhead.Fuel type. Solid fuel system, which ensures rapid combat readiness.Accuracy. This is by no means a high-precision weapon, as the deviation from the target can be up to 100 m. It is sufficient for delivering a nuclear warhead, but insufficient for conventional ammunition.Cost. Its exact cost is not disclosed, but experts estimate the missile to be approximately $20-25 million per unit. This price makes it affordable only to the most powerful state structures.According to nuclear non-proliferation expert Jeffrey Lewis, none of the Oreshnik's technologies are innovative or revolutionary in the development of modern weapons. Rather, it is "a set of old technologies assembled in a new combination." According to the conclusions of the same experts, the share of new components in the missile does not exceed 10%.What is the threat of an Oreshnik strike on Ukraine?After the Oreshnik attack on Dnipro, investigators analyzed the missile debris and drew conclusions. It is capable of striking critical infrastructure targets, and its high speed makes it difficult to intercept with Ukraine's existing air defense systems.Thus, the Oreshnik ballistic missile could have catastrophic consequences if it were to carry a nuclear warhead, but the likelihood of this is very low at present. It is believed that Russia has only a limited number of these missiles, which makes their regular use against Ukraine unlikely.The mass production of the Oreshnik ballistic missile is an information ploy to intimidate Western society.At the end of 2025, Russia deployed Oreshnik missiles in Belarus. According to Reuters, they were likely placed at a former airbase in the eastern part of the country.Defense Express analysts explained that most of Ukraine is outside the Oreshnik's range. This is because this two-stage solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile, like other similar missiles, has not only a maximum range but also a minimum flight range.

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