Ukraine's Foreign Minister urges partners to send air defense systems to intercept Russian Oreshnik missiles

Remains of the Russian Oreshnik missile that Russia used to strike Dnipro (Photo: REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko)

On social media, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called Russia’s use of medium-range ballistic missiles “typical blackmail,” adding that dictator Vladimir Putin is trying to intimidate others from supporting Ukraine.

Sybiha urged Ukraine’s partners to reject the blackmail, boost support, and strengthen Ukraine’s air defense with systems capable of intercepting such missiles.

Strike on Ukraine with Rubezh, Oreshnik or Kedr missiles

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that on the morning of November 21, Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile from Astrakhan Oblast, flying toward Dnipro.

The missile was likely Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh, marking its first use in Ukraine, according to Ukrainska Pravda.

However, Western officials did not confirm this and suggested it was likely an experimental medium-range ballistic missile.

An unnamed U.S. official told CNN that Russia only has a few such missiles, and Ukraine has been hit by missiles with more powerful warheads.

On the same day, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin stated that Russian forces had attacked Dnipro with the new Oreshnik system, which had not been publicly discussed before.

Experts from Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate later speculated that the strike could have been carried out by a ballistic missile from the Kedr missile complex, which underwent tests in 2023 and 2024.

BILD’s Julian Röpke analyzed open data, concluding that Russia likely used a modification of the RS-26 Rubezh missile without a warhead.

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