EditUkraine strikes 160 Russian oil and energy facilities in 2025, destroyed Oreshnik missile in 2023
The operation was kept secret, with only Zelenskyy informed at the time, along with several foreign presidents
Ukraine has successfully targeted 160 Russian oil and energy facilities this year, Vasyl Maliuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), announced on Friday during a briefing attended by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a Suspilne correspondent.
Maliuk emphasized that these operations, conducted by the SBU, the Main Intelligence Directorate (DIU) of the Ministry of Defence, and other units of the Ukrainian Defence Forces, aim to undermine Russia’s capacity to fund its war against Ukraine.
“The strikes will continue,” he told reporters.
In a previously undisclosed operation from the summer of 2023, Ukrainian forces destroyed one of three Oreshnik missiles on Russian soil at the Kapustin Yar missile range.
“We have never mentioned this before, but we can briefly say that one of the three Oreshnik missiles was successfully destroyed on their territory, in Kapustin Yar, by the forces of the DIU, the SSU, and the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS),” Maliuk said. He confirmed the destruction was “100%” effective.
❌UKRAINIAN FORCES SECRETLY DESTROYED RUSSIAN “ORESHNIK” LAST SUMMER
The operation was kept secret, and only presidents of several countries were aware of the successful sabotage, SBU head Vasyl Maliuk said. According to him, “the destruction was one hundred percent.”
One of… pic.twitter.com/v4SCFrSvoA
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) October 31, 2025
The operation was kept secret, with only the Supreme Commander-in-Chief – President Zelenskyy – informed at the time, along with several foreign presidents.
Russia can produce up to six Oreshnik missiles annually, according to Maliuk
Zelenskyy warned that Russia intends to deploy Oreshnik missiles in Belarus. The missile has a range of up to 5,000 kilometers and a 700-kilometer dead zone.
“Our partners in Europe should pay attention to this,” he said.
He added that 25 Russian companies are involved in Oreshnik production, none of which are currently under sanctions.
The Oreshnik is a nuclear-capable medium-range ballistic missile capable of speeds over Mach 10, carrying six warheads with submunitions. The U.S. Department of Defence classifies it as a variant of the RS-26 Rubezh missile.
On 21 November 2024, Russia launched a missile attack on Ukraine using various types, including an Oreshnik, striking near Dnipro. Zelenskyy described Ukraine as a “training ground” for Putin, who is testing new missiles and seeking weapons globally.
On 28 November 2024, Putin stated that Russia’s Defence Ministry and General Staff are selecting targets in Ukraine for Oreshnik strikes, potentially including “decision-making centres in Kyiv.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the Oreshnik is impossible to intercept and has destructive power comparable to a nuclear weapon, though Western experts have questioned these assertions. Putin said in June Russia was stepping up production but gave no details.
Oreshnik missiles featured in joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises last month. This week Belarus, a key ally of Russia, confirmed it would deploy the Oreshnik missile system on its territory, which borders Ukraine, in December.
Caption: An Oreshnik missile [@nexta_tv on X]
Updated: October 31, 2025 - 15:37
