Russia's elusive Oreshnik missile: West's role in its creation
The Russian Oreshnik missile was developed using advanced production equipment sourced from Western companies, writes "The Financial Times". Vladimir Putin boasted that it is the most modern missile, allegedly incapable of being intercepted even by the latest air defence systems.
Let's recall that the Oreshnik missile fell on Dnipro on 21st November. It is now known that Russia's new ballistic missile had multiple warheads but did not contain explosives.
Vladimir Putin described the missile as a response to Ukraine's use of American and British weapons to attack further areas of Russia.
Ukrainian intelligence pointed out that the Oreshnik missile was developed by two main Russian arms engineering institutes – the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (MITT) and Concern Sozvezdie.
According to "Financial Times", in 2024, both plants were seeking new employees with experience in operating German and Japanese metal processing systems. The job listings mentioned control systems by Fanuc (Japan), Siemens, and Heidenhain (both from Germany) intended for precise numerically controlled machines, essential for missile production.
Despite sanctions, Russia still acquires Western components
Even though sanctions have slowed the flow of such equipment, analysis by "Financial Times" revealed that in 2024, components from Heidenhain worth at least €2.9 million were sent to Russia. Some of the buyers were closely linked to military production.
Although Putin announced plans for mass production of Oreshnik missiles, a U.S. official told "The Kyiv Independent" that Russia most likely possesses only a small number of these experimental missiles.
The U.S. knew about the Oreshnik attack
The Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reported that Russia used the Kedr ballistic missile to attack Dnipro on 21st November 2024.
Initially, Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia used an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of carrying nuclear payloads. However, later the U.S. stated that it was an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that 30 minutes before launching the medium-range ballistic missile "Oreshnik", the Russian Federation sent the United States "notification automatically via the Nuclear Risk Reduction Centre". The White House confirms this information.
