Putin Claims Oreshnik Missile Strikes Were Intentional Misses; Russian Commentators Skeptical
Russian President Putin stated that recent Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile strikes on Ukraine were deliberately aimed at non-military targets to test the weapons' accuracy rather than inflict damage. The claim contradicts earlier Russian messaging that portrayed the strikes as major retaliatory operations against military objectives. Putin's explanation has drawn criticism from Russian war commentators who view it as an attempt to downplay the apparent ineffectiveness of Russia's new weapons system.
President Putin told Russian state media that Oreshnik missile launches, which had been initially presented as significant retaliatory strikes against Ukraine, were actually conducted on non-military targets to test operational capabilities. Putin claimed the missiles were aimed at locations like a "barn" specifically chosen so Russian drones could later inspect impact sites to assess accuracy for future strikes. The Oreshnik, an intermediate-range ballistic missile derived from the RS-26 with a range exceeding 3,000 miles, was first used in November 2024 against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro and subsequently deployed in January 2026 against Lviv. Previous satellite imagery and reports indicated minimal damage from these strikes, with no significant destruction visible at targeted facilities like the Yuzhmash rocket manufacturing plant. Russian military commentators have expressed skepticism about Putin's characterization, viewing the explanation as an attempt to reframe what appeared to be failed strikes as intentional testing operations.
What's missing
The article does not provide Ukrainian or Western military assessments of the Oreshnik's actual effectiveness or threat level, which would offer independent verification of whether the strikes genuinely missed or caused minimal damage. Additionally, context about why Russia would publicly downplay a weapons system it has invested in developing is not explored.
How coverage differed
Forbes frames Putin's statement as an "astonishing casual statement" and "conspicuous failure," using language that emphasizes skepticism toward the Russian explanation. The article presents Russian commentators' outrage prominently, suggesting the claim lacks credibility even within Russia's own military analysis community.
What different sources said
- ForbesCenter
Russians Unimpressed As Putin Claims His Missiles Missed On Purpose
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