What Russia’s Second Oreshnik Strike Was Really Testing. Oreshnik Strike Made No Military Sense - Until You Look at NATO
When Russia fired its Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) toward the outskirts of Lviv on December 8, the strike looked dramatic on paper: long range, strategic-class… 
When Russia fired its Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) toward the outskirts of Lviv on December 8, the strike looked dramatic on paper: long range, strategic-class weapon, and a clear signal aimed at Europe. But the details tell a different story. This launch had little practical combat value for Russia inside Ukraine—and a lot of potential intelligence value against NATO.
A “kinetic warhead” that can’t do the job
According to the described characteristics, the Oreshnik strike used mass-dimensional mockups rather than a real explosive payload. In Russian terminology, this is often framed as a “kinetic warhead,” but the effect…
