Oreshnik Missile Alarms West After Massive Kiev Strike
Western media say Russia’s Oreshnik missile is nearly impossible to intercept after its use in a May 24 strike on Ukrainian military targets in Kiev.
Western media outlets reacted sharply to Russia’s strike on Ukraine involving the Oreshnik ballistic missile, focusing both on the scale of the attack and the weapon’s reported capabilities.
The Telegraph noted that Russian forces struck facilities in Kiev using hundreds of drones and missiles, with Oreshnik listed among them. According to the publication’s observers, the Russian missile can carry a nuclear payload and travels at speeds many times faster than sound, making interception impossible.
The New York Times reported that Oreshnik’s payload separates in flight into several warheads moving along complex trajectories. The newspaper said this makes interception far more difficult for air defence systems, including US-made Patriot complexes.
CNN said the missile’s speed and flight path make it almost invulnerable to the air defence systems currently available to Ukraine. The channel also noted that this was only the third time Russia had used the missile.
Daily Express described Oreshnik as a frightening weapon capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads.
On the night of May 24, Russian forces struck military targets in Ukraine using Oreshnik, Kinzhal, Iskander and Tsirkon missiles. Russia’s Defence Ministry said the attack was a response to terrorist actions by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The ministry also stressed that civilian infrastructure was not targeted.