Russia Begins Mass Production of New Nuclear Ballistic Missile Oreshnik: Putin Boasts of Combat Effectiveness

• Russia Produces Oreshnik Nuclear Missile
• Putin Highlights Combat Efficiency
• Global Concern Over New Weaponry

According to CNN, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday the start of mass production of the new intermediate-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile, known as Oreshnik.

This development marks a new phase in the Kremlin’s strategic rearmament amid its ongoing war with Ukraine and rising tensions with the West.

Putin claimed the Oreshnik has shown “proven effectiveness under combat conditions” during its initial deployment.

While he did not provide technical specifications, he emphasized that the missile meets “the highest standards of Russian defense.”

First Use of the Oreshnik Nuclear Missile

The Russian Oreshnik was first deployed in November 2024 as a deterrent against threats of nuclear weapon use against Russia. The most advanced missile in the world ever tested in combat, to our knowledge: https://t.co/FD80gaKfeP pic.twitter.com/5LIia1CYVK

— Diario De Un Fumon (@DiarioDeUnFumon) June 18, 2025

The Oreshnik was first deployed in November 2024, during a strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in the country’s east.

That operation was heavily promoted by the Kremlin, with speeches lauding the missile’s destructive power and radar-evasion capabilities.

Russian propaganda described the weapon as “undetectable” by Western defense systems, though international experts dismissed many of those claims as exaggerated or unproven.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the missile was equipped with six clusters of six warheads—a total of 36 individual munitions.

Key Features of Russia’s Nuclear Missile

This configuration drew attention for the sheer number of projectiles the missile could release in a single strike, making it a formidable threat on the battlefield.

Estimates place the Oreshnik’s range between 3,000 and 5,500 kilometers, classifying it as an intermediate-range ballistic missile.

That gives Russia the ability to strike targets across most of Europe, the Middle East, and Western Asia from within its own territory.

Putin framed the missile’s use and mass production as a direct response to decisions by Ukraine’s Western allies.

International Reactions

Specifically, he cited the recent approval for Kyiv to use long-range missiles supplied by the United States and European nations as the trigger.

According to Putin, this move forced Russia to develop and deploy more aggressive strategic capabilities.

“We have been compelled to respond with determination,” he declared, aiming to send a strong message to both Ukraine and NATO.

Despite the Kremlin’s declarations, Western experts remain cautious about the missile’s true capabilities.

Oreshnik Missile and Global Tensions

Military analysts suggest that many of Russia’s claims regarding the missile’s supposed technological invulnerability may serve propaganda purposes more than reflect reality.

Some even question whether Russia has the industrial capacity to sustain mass production of such a missile, given current economic sanctions and wartime logistical challenges.

Nevertheless, the mere existence of such a system has sparked strategic concerns—particularly in Eastern Europe.

The serial production of the Oreshnik is widely seen as a Russian maneuver to reposition itself in the global arms race.