On the 10th day after the Russian Armed Forces struck the city of Dnipro in Ukraine with an Oreshnik missile, more details about its origin began to emerge. The latest revelation came hours ago from Roscosmos’ General Director, Yuri Borisov.
In his statement to the state-owned Russian television VGTRK, Borisov announced that Roscosmos is ready to provide “entirely to the Russian Ministry of Defense” the Oreshnik missile systems.
“As for precision systems, over the last two years or more, we have already increased the production of this type of weapon several times. As for Oreshnik, we have all the necessary capabilities to provide the Ministry of Defense, let’s say, the required quantity,” Borisov told VGTRK journalist Pavel Zarubin.
Borisov’s announcement sheds new light on the hybrid Oreshnik system and perhaps offers a new direction for investigation. This is particularly relevant considering that everything said and written since November 21 up to today has been in the realm of speculation, as there is no official information regarding the missile system in Russia.
Since the Oreshnik missile was the work of Roscosmos, it is assumed that it was developed by Roscosmos as part of the program to create a new generation of ballistic missiles.
Although the primary function of Roscosmos is related to space exploration and satellite technologies, the organization also participates in the development of missiles with military applications, often in cooperation with Russian military-industrial structures.
It is possible that the missile was initially designed as a carrier rocket. There is a project in the history of Roscosmos named Oreshnik, and this missile system was specifically developed as a launch vehicle.
The Oreshnik carrier rocket, developed by Roscosmos, represents an innovative approach to launching small satellites. This is part of Russia’s efforts to capture a larger share of the global market for compact satellite systems, which are rapidly growing due to commercial and scientific applications.
The rocket was conceived as a cost-effective alternative to larger and more complex launch vehicles, such as the Soyuz and Angara rockets, which are designed for larger and heavier missions.
Technologically, the Oreshnik uses environmentally friendly fuels, primarily liquid methane and oxygen. This makes it competitive with international systems like rockets developed by SpaceX and Rocket Lab, which also emphasize reducing harmful emissions.
In addition to its environmental advantages, the system is optimized for quick preparation and launch, making it particularly useful for missions with tight deadlines or requirements for flexibility.
The project emphasizes mobility and versatility. The rocket can be launched from traditional launch sites, such as Plesetsk and Baikonur, but also from smaller, mobile platforms, increasing its operational applicability.
With a payload capacity suitable for microsatellites and small satellite constellations, Oreshnik is aimed at Earth observation missions, internet coverage, and other applications where small satellites are a key component.
The development of Oreshnik is a strategic move by Roscosmos to remain competitive in an increasingly commercialized space industry.
Russia’s focus on light launch vehicles is no accident — it is a sector where cost-effectiveness and mass production capabilities will play an increasingly important role in attracting international clients. If the project succeeds, it could be a significant step towards modernizing Russia’s space program.
Thus, it can be assumed that after Borisov’s statement and the historical existence of such a rocket, Oreshnik may be a hybrid project with components stemming from Russia’s space and military technologies.
The missile is positioned as a modern weapon with high speed and maneuverability, using technologies that complicate its interception by missile defense systems.
What do we know from Russian sources about this Oreshnik used on November 21 against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro? According to Russian sources, the missile was equipped with conventional warheads and reached a speed of over 13,000 km/h upon impact.
The primary target of the attack was the Yuzhmash plant, a key enterprise for missile technology in Ukraine. The strike reportedly caused no significant damage, according to some sources, but it is considered a demonstration of military power and a psychological tool.
Oreshnik is a new-generation medium-range missile that, according to experts, uses a “lofted” trajectory, typical of test launches, reducing the possibility of interception.
However, Borisov’s statement completely contradicts the claims of Western experts. Western experts view the Oreshnik missile as a new step in Russia’s military strategy, arguing that it does not represent a fundamental technological innovation but rather an evolution of existing missiles used by Russia.
According to Western experts, the missile is likely derived from the RS-26 “Rubezh” series, an intermediate-range ballistic missile developed more than a decade ago. Some sources suggest that Oreshnik could be a modified variant using well-known technologies for strategic impact but adapted for new purposes.
There are also analyses suggesting that the Oreshnik missile is more of a promotional demonstration than a real strategic innovation. According to them, Russia’s aim with such demonstrations is to increase its military might in the eyes of the world, creating the impression of progress while actually adapting old missiles.
The technology of Oreshnik likely shares many features with Russian medium- and long-range missiles, such as the ability to avoid open radar networks, as well as high speeds in the atmosphere.
Yuri Borisov, Roscosmos director, mentioning that Roscosmos could provide the Ministry of Defense with control over the Oreshnik missile system, suggests an important strategic move, demonstrating the close link between Russia’s space program and its military industry.
This indicates that the technology developed by Roscosmos could be adapted and used for military purposes as part of integrating space technologies into the defense infrastructure.
This statement affirmatively shows that the Oreshnik missile could have both civilian and military applications. The shift from launching small satellites to military functions is logical for Russia, utilizing existing infrastructure and technologies to expand military power.
The ability to quickly and easily transfer control over such missiles highlights the efficiency and flexibility of the project, which is being developed for more than just satellite launches.
Moreover, this statement is a clear signal to Russia that its space technologies can be quickly adapted for military purposes, thereby increasing the country’s potential to create new strategies for space and military security.
This integration of civilian and military technologies could be key to strengthening Russia’s position on the global stage in future geopolitical conflicts.
BulgarianMilitary.com recalls that Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on November 21, that the United States and its NATO allies previously authorized the use of long-range precision weapons, which led to attacks on Russian military facilities in the Bryansk and Kursk regions by American and British missiles.
According to Putin, in response to these attacks, Moscow used its latest non-nuclear medium-range ballistic missile, the “Oreshnik,” for the first time, striking a facility within Ukraine’s military-industrial complex — the Yuzhmash plant in Dnipro [formerly Dnipropetrovsk].
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