Russia Conducts Deep Strike in Ukraine Using Oreshnik Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said January 9, 2026, that its forces carried out a large-scale retaliatory strike on Ukrainian targets, reportedly using the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile for the first time. The claim, tied to an alleged attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence, raises questions about escalation and the credibility of battlefield messaging.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced Friday that it had conducted what it called a large-scale retaliatory strike against military-related targets in Ukraine, asserting that the operation included the use of the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile. The statement, first published on the ministry’s official Telegram channel and later amplified by state news agency TASS, framed the attack as retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian strike against President Vladimir Putin’s residence in the Novgorod Region in late December 2025, an accusation that has not been independently verified by Ukrainian officials or outside observers.
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Russia claims it used an Oreshnik ballistic missile in a Ukraine strike, citing an unverified attack on Putin’s residence. (Picture source: Russian MoD)

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the operation involved long-range, high-precision weapons launched from land and sea platforms, as well as strike unmanned aerial vehicles. According to the Russian account, the strikes targeted facilities associated with drone production and elements of energy infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s military-industrial complex. The ministry claimed that the assigned objectives were achieved, although no independent damage assessments have been made public, and Ukrainian authorities have not confirmed the reported effects.

The explicit reference to the Oreshnik missile system is notable, as it underscores Moscow’s willingness to publicly acknowledge the operational use of this relatively new intermediate-range ballistic missile. Oreshnik is widely assessed as a road-mobile, solid-fueled ballistic missile developed in the period following the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Its estimated range is between 3,000 and 5,500 kilometers, depending on payload configuration, placing it between shorter-range tactical systems and intercontinental ballistic missiles in terms of reach and role.

From a technical perspective, Oreshnik is assessed as a two-stage solid-fuel ballistic missile drawing on technologies associated with the RS-24 Yars and RS-26 Rubezh programs. The missile is deployed on a mobile Transporter-Erector-Launcher, enabling off-road mobility, concealed deployment, and rapid launch readiness. Open-source estimates suggest a length of approximately 15 to 18.5 meters, a diameter of around 1.86 meters, and a launch weight potentially in the 30 to 40 metric ton range, though these figures have not been officially confirmed. Reported terminal velocities exceeding Mach 10 indicate a hypersonic reentry profile that significantly reduces interception windows for defensive systems.

Oreshnik is assessed as a dual-capable system able to deliver both nuclear and conventional payloads. In a nuclear role, it is believed to be capable of carrying multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, potentially three to six low- to medium-yield warheads, supporting regional deterrence and second-strike planning. In a conventional configuration, the missile is thought to deploy multiple reentry vehicles equipped with high-explosive submunitions, allowing it to engage area targets such as industrial facilities, airfields, logistics nodes, and energy infrastructure.

Guidance is believed to rely on an inertial navigation system supplemented by corrections from Russia’s GLONASS satellite network, providing midcourse accuracy and resilience in contested electronic warfare environments. Russian sources have also suggested the possible use of maneuvering reentry vehicles or penetration aids intended to complicate interception by missile defense systems. Combined with its mobility and high terminal speed, these features are intended to enhance survivability and strike reliability.

Oreshnik was previously associated with combat use in November 2024 during a Russian strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, an event that many analysts interpreted as an operational validation under real-world conditions. At that time, reported damage was limited, leading to assessments that the launch may have served as a demonstration or test. The January 2026 statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense presents Oreshnik as an active component of Russia’s long-range strike arsenal rather than a developmental system.

The Russian Ministry of Defense concluded its communication by warning that any future attacks attributed to Ukraine against Russian leadership or facilities deemed critical would continue to prompt what it described as an inevitable response. For defense analysts, the episode highlights the increasing role of intermediate-range ballistic missiles such as Oreshnik in Russia’s current military doctrine, occupying a space between conventional deep-strike capabilities and strategic deterrence, while adding further complexity to the escalation dynamics of the conflict.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group

Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.