Russia's Oreshnik missile: a strategic weapon of concern to Europe

The international military arena has witnessed a new development with Moscow confirming the use of its strategic missile "Oreshnik" in recent operations against Ukrainian territory, prompting a wave of sharp European criticism, especially from French President Emmanuel Macron and European Union officials. Oreshnik, which derives its name from the Russian word for hazelnut tree, is classified as a medium-range ballistic missile with exceptional capabilities. According to For Russian sources, the missile can hit targets with a range of 3,000 to 5,500 kilometers, putting most European capitals within range of its immediate threat. The missile made its first operational appearance in 2024 when it targeted the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, and since that date it has been the focus of attention of military and strategic experts around the world. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the weapon as "highly sophisticated" and capable of carrying warheads Multiple with hypersonic speeds. Orishnik's fundamental danger lies in its enormous speed of about Mach 10, ten times the speed of sound, which makes it almost impossible to intercept with current defense technologies. Russian officials also confirm the missile's ability to carry nuclear warheads, although the first strike in Ukraine used conventional warheads. From a developmental point of view, the US Department of Defense points out that "Oreshnik" represents An experimental system based on the RS-26 Rubig intercontinental ballistic missile. But Putin insists it is a fully modern weapon developed in response to an order issued in 2023, not just a modernization of Soviet-era technologies. The deployment of this weapon in Belarus, as confirmed by President Alexander Lukashenko, adds a new dimension to the strategic equation in the region, and opens questions about its impact on the balance of military forces on the European continent and regional stability in general.