Russia Unleashes Experimental Oreshnik Missile on Ukraine: What it Signals

• Russia confirmed using the Oreshnik missile in an overnight strike on Ukraine, marking its second known use in the war.
• The Oreshnik is an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile, capable of deploying multiple warheads simultaneously.
• Derived from the RS-26 Rubezh, it can carry nuclear or conventional warheads; no nuclear element was indicated in the latest strike.
• President Putin claims the Oreshnik is impossible to intercept and has destructive power comparable to a nuclear weapon, a claim disputed by Western experts.
• The strike is seen as retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on Putin's residence and a warning against Western long-range weapons.

Why It Matters: Russia's use of the Oreshnik missile signals escalation and a warning to Ukraine and its Western allies.