Russia May Have Launched A Second Oreshnik Ballistic Missile At Ukraine—But This One Reportedly Exploded On Russian Soil

Forbes ^ | 2/6/2025 | David Axe

[marcusmaximus]

A terror weapon becomes less terrifying when it doesn’t work.

After warning U.S. officials of its intention to launch, Russia lobbed a mysterious new ballistic missile—initially mistaken for a nuclear-capable ICBM—at the city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine on the morning of Nov. 21, damaging buildings and injuring dozens of people.

The mystery weapon turned out to be a variant of Russia’s RS-26, a 40-ton, solid-fueled missile with six independent reentry vehicles. Its name, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin announced shortly after the strike, is “Oreshnik.” That’s Russian for “hazelnut tree.”

Three months later on Thursday morning, the Russians reportedly launched another Oreshnik—this one apparently targeting Kyiv. Air raid sirens wailed. City residents scrambled for shelter. But then … nothing. No scream of incoming reentry vehicles. No thunderous impacts as the non-explosive vehicles slammed into the ground.

According to Kirill Sazonov, a Ukrainian war correspondent, the Oreshnik “did not fly far.” It reportedly malfunctioned and exploded—on Russian soil.

Everyone knew an attack might be coming. A week after the first Oreshnik strike, Putin threatened to fire additional Oreshniks—and specifically warned he’d target “decision-making centers” in Kyiv, where Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelensky, top officials and commanders and their staffs work.

[Allegra]

I feel like it’s a she. She posts like a snippy little teenage girl.

[Vendome]

Oh

I

C

[Navy Patriot]

SpaceX is going to the Moon, under contract to NASA

Exactly, the contract is required because There's no NASA in SpaceX.

[buwaya]

?

I dont get it. Most things SpaceX does are under contract to someone. Its a service provider.

[Navy Patriot]

Contracts are required when two different entities do business with one another.

A single entity does not need a contract, the manager of that single entity simply instructs the employees in what to do, and that single entity does not pay itself.

The existence of a contract agreement is necessary to have one entity get a different entity to do what it wants done, and visa versa to get the payment done.

Two Different entities Contract to get something done and get the amount of payment done in return.

Thus, there is no NASA in SpaceX, and there is no SpaceX in NASA.

[buwaya]

“two different entities”
That’s the point of NASA outsourcing launch services to private entities. NASA used to be the “lead contractor” for its projects - like Apollo, Space Shuttle, etc. It contracted for specific bits of tech. Its like the USAF running its air units, buying aircraft from industrial companies, but organizing the missions, maintenance, personnel, etc. No more.
Now it gives a spec for what it wants to happen. “Put equipment A at point B”

[Bikkuri]

Good point.

[lonestar67]

So explaining the post is slander but calling someone a gnat is helpful discourse.

I think your word choices reveal you.

The truth is hurting.

[Allegra]

Go away, lil’ gnat. You’re annoying. {swat}