Russia’s use of its “Oreshnik” ballistic missile in strikes against Ukraine is likely to undermine, not strengthen, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military leverage, as debris from the weapon is now providing Ukraine and Western analysts with rare access to its design and capabilities, a senior US lawmaker said in Kyiv.
Speaking at a briefing on Thursday, Jim Himes, a member of the US House Intelligence Committee, said the deployment of a missile believed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads marks an escalation – but one that fails to achieve its intended deterrent effect.
“This will not intimidate Ukrainians,” Himes said, according to RBC-Ukraine, noting that recovered fragments are being studied by Ukrainian and Western experts to assess the system’s performance and technology.
Instead of projecting strength, he argued, the strikes are generating intelligence value for Ukraine and its allies.
“Like many other steps taken by Vladimir Putin, this will have the opposite effect to what he is trying to achieve,” Himes said.
Ukrainian officials have also raised questions about the missile’s composition. Presidential envoy Vladyslav Vlasiuk on Tuesday suggested the “Oreshnik” may contain few or no foreign-made components, distinguishing it from other Russian systems that rely heavily on imported parts.
On Thursday, however, Ukrainian officials said that components manufactured at a Belarusian factory were discovered inside the “Oreshnik” missile.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired two “Oreshnik” missiles on the night of May 24, with one striking Kyiv region and the other reportedly landing in temporarily occupied Donetsk region.