Chronology of the use of the "Oreshnik" system
According to data from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the "Oreshnik" system has been deployed a total of three times during the military conflict:
- First strike (November 2024): In response to the use of Western long-range weapons against targets in Russia, a defense industry facility in Dnipropetrovsk was struck.
- Second strike (January 2026): Targeted at critical infrastructure following an attack on the residence of the Russian president. At that time, the Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant was destroyed.
- Third strike (May 24, 2026): A massive combined attack using "Oreshnik", "Iskander", "Kinzhal", and "Zircon" against command posts and airbases.
Russia claims that "Oreshnik" is used exclusively against military targets and infrastructure of Ukraine's defense-industrial complex.
The situation remains extremely tense following the latest massive strike, in which, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, over 600 drones and 90 missiles were used. For its part, Moscow emphasizes that its actions are a "strike of retribution" for attacks against its civilian targets, including the incident in Starobilsk.
International observers are closely monitoring the deployment of the missile systems in Belarus, which puts the neighboring NATO and EU countries at direct risk.