Ukrainian intelligence reportedly destroyed a Russian Oreshnik missile on Russian soil during the summer of 2023, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The operation is said to have taken place at the Kapustin Yar testing range located in the Astrakhan region.
President Zelensky did not specify the exact date of the incident but confirmed the successful interdiction of the missile, which was described as one of Russia’s newer missile systems. The destruction of the missile was reportedly complete, though further details about the operation have not been publicly disclosed.
The incident occurs amid ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with both sides engaged in various military exchanges and confrontations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Kyiv’s claim of destroying a Russian missile on home territory underscores the ongoing contest over missile technology and strategic capabilities.
Moscow has not officially commented on the Ukrainian claim. The event adds to the complex and tense backdrop of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, highlighting the evolving nature of military engagements and intelligence operations in the region.