


Vladimir Putin confirms strategic stockpiles of advanced hypersonic “Orezhnik” missiles
On June 23, President Vladimir Putin confirmed during a speech to graduates of the law and military academies in the Kremlin that these weapons are already in service.
While the world was preoccupied with Donald Trump’s geopolitical theater – characterized by attacks by B-2 bombers and their bunker-busting bombs aimed at Iranian nuclear facilities (which all available evidence suggests failed) – the media completely neglected to report on Russia’s stockpiles of highly advanced hypersonic “Orezhnik” missiles.
The Russian military announced the start of mass production of the “Orezhnik” missiles on December 11, 2024. In practice, this means that the Kremlin already has stocks of these weapons – which is extremely unpleasant news for NATO.
“Orezhnik” is derived from the RS-26 “Rubezh” missile, which in turn is based on the RS-24 “Yars”. All three systems can perform maneuvering trajectories that confuse NATO missile defense systems, making them virtually elusive.
There is a lot of speculation about the capabilities of the “Orešnik” – it is possible that it is an HGV (hypersonic glide vehicle), MaRV, MIRV or some hybrid variant. The RS-26 “Rubež” can already carry the Avangard, so it is entirely possible that it can also carry the Orešnik.
It is not excluded that the “Orešnik” is a completely new weapon, not ballistic, but hypersonic, maneuvering, carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads. However, it is more likely that it is a conventionally armed HGV, which can be deployed from a carrier like the RS-26. The advantage is the modular design and the use of existing production lines.
On November 21, the “Orešnik” hit an underground complex in Dnepropetrovsk. The footage showed 36 sub-projectiles divided into six groups of six. The absence of explosions (except for one) suggests that these were kinetic armor-piercing missiles, capable of destroying fortified objects without the use of explosives.
The explosions lasted up to three hours, which completely exceeds the effect of the so-called “bunker busters” used by America. Western experts admit that even the inertial warheads of the Orešnik can cause enormous damage thanks to the kinetic energy of hypersonic flight.
“Orešnik” shows that Russia is no longer playing second fiddle. While NATO is only testing unfinished systems like the “Dark Eagle”, Moscow already has operational stocks of new-generation hypersonic weapons that can change the rules of strategic balance for decades to come.
And most importantly: Russia can now destroy any NATO base in Europe, without the use of nuclear weapons.
AUTHOR: Drago Bosnić
Mike