In 2024, Ukrainian Special Operators Blew Up One Of Russia's Powerful Oreshnik Ballistic Missiles—By Hitting The Fabrication Building

The raid didn't prevent an Oreshnik attack four months later

The Oreshnik raid on Dnipro

Early on Nov. 21, 2024, several powerful projectiles penetrated the clouds over the city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine. The non-nuclear munitions smashed into an industrial site, a medical rehabilitation center, homes and garages. There were injuries.

Later that same day, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin confirmed analysts’ suspicions: the weapon that struck Dnipro was an experimental ballistic missile with multiple reentry vehicles—called “Oreshnik.”

The Ukrainians clearly knew the missile posed a threat. Four months earlier, Ukrainian special operators targeted and reportedly destroyed an Oreshnik on the ground in Kapustin Yar, Russia’s main ballistic missile testing and fabrication site 370 miles from the front line in Ukraine.

On Friday, the Ukrainian main intelligence directorate finally revealed the July 8-9, 2024 special operation. “The operation was classified, and its results were reported only to the president of Ukraine and several leaders of foreign states at that time,” the intel directorate stated.

The Ukrainian special operators apparently guided long-range attack drones to Kasputin Yar and destroyed the missile at its fabrication facility. Footage from the ground in Kasputin Yar on July 9 depicted drones barreling in and smoke curling from the targeted building. (See video below.)

Sometime prior to the raid, Ukrainian intelligence warned Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia planned to deploy the Oreshnik in Belarus for potential strikes on Ukraine. The July 2024 raid aimed to forestall the deployment.