Russia's Oreshnik Strikes Were Reported to Carry Inert Payloads. That's the Point, and the Problem

Hardware | Reported inert reentry vehicles show how velocity alone can produce effects, complicating warning, attribution, and deterrence

DefenseHub · Thursday · Hardware · May 28, 2026

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On May 24, Russia fired its Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine for at least the third confirmed time, after Dnipro in November 2024 and the Lviv region in January 2026, releasing six reentry vehicles that split into what defense analyst Konrad Muzyka of Rochan Consulting estimates were…