Russia May Have Accidentally Hit Its Own Forces With Nuclear-Capable Oreshnik Missile

Russia may have launched two nuclear-capable Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles during its overnight attack on Ukraine on May 24, with one of the missiles reportedly striking Russian-controlled territory in the Donetsk region.

According to the Ukrainian monitoring channel eRadar, one of the missiles reportedly struck near temporary occupied Avdiivka or Yasynuvata in the Donetsk region, areas currently under Russian control. The outlet suggested the strike may have hit Russian military positions, though the claim has not been independently verified.

A second launch was later reportedly directed toward Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region. According to eRadar, this could explain why Ukraine’s Air Force reported only one confirmed ballistic missile impact on territory controlled by Ukraine during the attack.

Monitoring channels began reporting possible Oreshnik launches at approximately 01:00 local time during Russia’s large-scale missile strike overnight on May 24. At the time, no confirmed impact locations were publicly identified, leading some observers to question whether the first launch had failed.

According to eRadar, subsequent analysis suggests the initial launch may have reached a target in occupied Donetsk region, while the second missile later struck Bila Tserkva.

The reports remain unconfirmed by Ukrainian military authorities. Ukraine’s Air Force has not publicly commented on claims regarding a second impact site in temporary Russian-occupied territory.

The Oreshnik is described by Russia as a new intermediate-range ballistic missile system capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Moscow first publicly referenced the weapon in late 2024, presenting it as part of Russia’s strategic missile arsenal amid continued strikes against Ukraine.

Russian officials have claimed the Oreshnik can travel at hypersonic speeds and strike targets across Europe, although many of its technical specifications remain unverified. Analysts have linked the system to Russia’s broader effort to rebuild its intermediate-range missile capabilities following the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

On May 24, Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, firing 690 aerial targets overnight, including 90 missiles and 600 drones, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Kyiv was the primary target of the attack, which killed two people and injured dozens more across the capital.

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