Ukrainian weapons experts have discovered that a Russian Oreshnik missile launched at their country in January was actually manufactured nine years ago, challenging Moscow’s claims about the weapon being revolutionary new technology.
After analyzing debris from the strike, investigators determined the missile was built in 2017 using components that date back to 2016 or earlier, all originating from Russia or Belarus, officials announced Friday.
The Oreshnik represents a nuclear-capable weapon system with a striking distance exceeding 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles). Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed the missile cannot be intercepted, though numerous Western defense analysts have disputed this characterization.
Fragments collected from the limited number of Oreshnik strikes during the ongoing conflict have provided Ukrainian officials with valuable intelligence about the weapon system while raising doubts about Moscow’s promotional claims.
Ukrainian defense assessments conclude the Oreshnik represents an updated variant of the earlier RS-26 Rubezh missile, which achieved its first successful test flight in 2012.
During Friday’s briefing showcasing electronic components retrieved from Russian weapons and unmanned aircraft, a Ukrainian missile analysis specialist expressed surprise at their findings.
“We were rather surprised, because they say that this is a very new missile, but if you look at the year of assembly, it says 2017,” stated the expert, who provided only his first name Petro citing security concerns.
Moscow has deployed the Oreshnik weapon system against Ukrainian targets on at least three occasions throughout the conflict, including an attack on a community near Kyiv during an intensive aerial bombardment on May 24.
Vladyslav Vlasiuk, who serves as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s sanctions adviser, confirmed the electronic components were salvaged from an Oreshnik strike on the western city of Lviv in January. Vlasiuk noted that debris analysis from this month’s most recent Oreshnik attack remains ongoing.
Vlasiuk also reported that Ukrainian forensic teams are documenting increased replacement of Western missile technology with Chinese alternatives, describing this substitution pattern as appearing “forced.”
Despite export restrictions imposed by Ukraine’s Western partners on electronics potentially useful in missile production, Western-manufactured chips obtained through illegal channels continue appearing in Russian weapons and drone systems.
Ukrainian officials have consistently urged Western nations to strengthen enforcement mechanisms preventing electronic component shipments to Moscow.
