In a major strategic blow to Russia’s advanced weapons program, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and military intelligence (HUR) have successfully destroyed one of Russia’s top-secret “Oreshnik” strategic missile systems. SBU Chief Vasyl Malyuk confirmed the “100% successful strike” on Friday, October 31, 2025, revealing the covert operation took place at the Kapustin Yar testing range in Russia’s Astrakhan region.
The Oreshnik, first used operationally against Ukraine in November 2024, is an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that Russia has touted as a hypersonic, next-generation weapon. Capable of speeds exceeding Mach 10 and armed with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), the system is designed to be nearly impossible for current air defense systems to intercept.
Speaking alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Malyuk disclosed that the operation was conducted some time ago, but was kept secret to protect intelligence sources. “Enough time has passed, and we can finally talk about it,” Malyuk said. He noted the strike was so successful that it hit the complex before the weapon’s name, “Oreshnik,” was even publicly known.
The Kapustin Yar facility, often called the “Russian Roswell,” is one of Russia’s most sensitive military and aerospace development and test sites. It is the primary launch and development ground for Russia’s ballistic missile programs. The user’s report that the complex once “operated across the Dnipro” is likely a reference to the Oreshnik missile itself, which was first fired from Kapustin Yar to strike a target in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in 2024.
President Zelenskyy, commenting on the operation, confirmed that Russia had conducted three test launches of the Oreshnik before the SBU and HUR strike successfully “hit” the system. He warned that Ukrainian intelligence believes Moscow still retains the capability for up to six more launches.
The destruction of an Oreshnik system at its home base represents a significant intelligence and military victory for Ukraine. It demonstrates a deep-reach capability to strike one of Russia’s most heavily guarded strategic assets, undermining the Kremlin’s narrative of the weapon’s invincibility.
Zelenskyy also warned that Russia is preparing to deploy its remaining Oreshnik missiles in Belarus. With an estimated range of up to 5,000 kilometers, such a deployment would pose a direct threat to nearly all of Europe, a fact the president urged Eastern European allies to note.
