Munitions

Oreshnik

Also known as
  • Oreshnik missile
  • Oreshnik IRBM
  • Hazel
  • Орешник

Oreshnik is a Russian road-mobile, solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile publicly revealed through combat launches in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War. U.S. officials described the 2024 launch as an experimental RS-26-derived system, while CSIS lists a 3,500-5,470 km range estimate and MIRV-capable payload configuration.

Oreshnik, Intermediate-range ballistic missile, Munitions
Image source: Wikimedia Commons Oreshnik Strike GIF

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Russia
Type
Intermediate-range ballistic missile
Service note
2020s 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Produced
Serial production announced in 2025
Developed from
RS-26 Rubezh family, according to U.S. defense officials

Specifications

Class
Road-mobile intermediate-range ballistic missile
Propulsion
Solid fuel
Range
3,500-5,470 km, according to CSIS Missile Threat
Basing
Mobile transporter-launcher
Warhead options
Single or MIRV payload configurations reported in open sources
Demonstrated payload
CSIS describes the demonstrated payload as six MIRV warheads, each assessed in open sources as capable of deploying six submunitions
Lineage
Described by U.S. officials as based on the RS-26 Rubezh design
Timeline

Oreshnik Key Events

  1. First public combat launch

    Russia fired the missile at Dnipro, and U.S. defense officials described the launch as an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile based on the RS-26 Rubezh.

  2. Production announced

    Russian officials said the first serially produced Oreshnik system had been delivered to the military.

  3. Belarus deployment announced

    Russian and Belarusian officials said Oreshnik missiles had entered service and would be placed on combat duty in Belarus.

  4. Lviv-region strike reported

    Reuters and CSIS reported that Russia fired Oreshnik at infrastructure in Ukraine's Lviv region during a wider missile-and-drone attack.

  5. Kyiv-area launch recorded

    Reuters reported and published video from a mass Russian attack in which an Oreshnik missile was fired near the Ukrainian capital.

Combat Use And Sourcing Limits

Public evidence identifies Oreshnik through operational launches and official claims rather than a complete technical manual. The missile is therefore best treated as a documented Russian IRBM with open-source limits around manufacturer, inventory size, accuracy, and exact payload configuration.

EventWhat is documentedSourcing limit
Dnipro strike, 2024U.S. officials identified the launch as an experimental IRBM based on the RS-26 family, while Russian officials publicly named the missile Oreshnik.Public sources describe the launch and broad missile class, not a complete system datasheet.
Lviv-region strike, 2026Reuters and CSIS reported an Oreshnik launch against infrastructure near Ukraine's western border during a larger Russian strike package.Open reporting identifies the weapon and approximate target region, while detailed telemetry remains unavailable.
Kyiv-area attack, 2026Reuters reported and filmed a mass Russian attack in which an Oreshnik missile was fired near the capital.Video and reporting document the launch context, not the missile's full performance envelope.
Service and basingRussian official statements and AP reporting describe serial production claims and later active service in Belarus.Manufacturer and production totals remain publicly unidentified.
Media

Oreshnik Videos

Related Weapon Systems
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Ghauri / Hatf-5, Road-mobile medium-range ballistic missile, MunitionsMunitionsGhauri / Hatf-5Road-mobile medium-range ballistic missileGhauri, also designated Hatf-5, is a Pakistani road-mobile, single-stage, liquid-fueled medium-range ballistic missile associated with Kahuta Research Laboratories' strategic missile work and with North Korean Nodong design lineage in Western open-source assessments. CSIS Missile Threat lists the baseline system as operational with 1,250 to 1,500 km range, while Pakistani training-launch reporting commonly cites a 1,300 km conventional or nuclear-capable missile.
RSM-56 Bulava, Submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), MunitionsMunitionsRSM-56 BulavaSubmarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM)The RSM-56 Bulava is a Russian submarine-launched ballistic missile designed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology for the Borei/Project 955 SSBN family. CSIS identifies it as an intercontinental-range SLBM with an 8,300 km range estimate, MIRV payload, and operational status; RussianSpaceWeb ties the program to the abandoned R-39 Bark replacement path and Votkinsk serial production. This page stays relationship-only because public sources document strategic service, tests, and launch-platform relationships rather than independent use in a named armed conflict.

Sources

Pentagon November 2024 Oreshnik BriefingPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict use by describing Russia's 21 November 2024 experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile launch against Ukraine and its RS-26 lineage. | Accessed: 2026-06-30CSIS Missile Threat Oreshnik ProfilePublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports Oreshnik specifications, road-mobile solid-fuel IRBM classification, range estimates, MIRV payload discussion, RS-26 lineage, and 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct-use context including 2024 and January 2026 launches. | Accessed: 2026-06-30RUSI Oreshnik AnalysisPublisher: Royal United Services Institute | Note: Supports background on Oreshnik's role, payload uncertainty, and the military-signalling context around the missile. | Accessed: 2026-06-30AP Oreshnik Service And Belarus DeploymentPublisher: Associated Press | Note: Supports Russian official statements on serial production, service entry, and planned Belarus deployment of Oreshnik missiles. | Accessed: 2026-06-30TASS Oreshnik FactboxPublisher: TASS | Note: Supports Russian official claims about serial-production decisions, August 2025 delivery of a first serial system, road-mobile configuration, and reported payload and range claims. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Reuters January 2026 Oreshnik Lviv StrikePublisher: Reuters | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict use by reporting Russia fired an Oreshnik missile at a target in Ukraine's Lviv region on 9 January 2026. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Reuters May 2026 Oreshnik Strike ReportPublisher: Reuters | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict use by reporting Russia fired an Oreshnik missile near Kyiv during a 24 May 2026 attack. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Wikimedia Commons Oreshnik Strike GIFPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a Commons-hosted GIF associated with the November 2024 Oreshnik strike footage. | Accessed: 2026-06-30