Ukrainian investigators are currently examining the remnants of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) launched by Russia towards the city of Dnipro, marking the weapon's first deployment in a combat scenario. The missile, named Oreshnik in Russian, struck a factory in Dnipro, as confirmed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in a national address. This action was purportedly a response to the approval by the U.S. and the U.K. for Ukraine to utilize Western-supplied long-range missiles against Russia.
The Pentagon has indicated that the IRBM is derived from Russia's RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), although a detailed analysis of the wreckage is pending. The remnants of the missile were showcased by Ukraine's Security Service, revealing charred wires and a partially destroyed airframe, indicative of the missile's potential to carry nuclear or conventional warheads.
