The article investigates the performance and deployment issues of Russia's Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile. After the first strike in Dnipro, Ukraine in November 2024, Russia rushed production despite critical manufacturing bottlenecks in the guidance system—specifically the outdated and uncalibrated Soviet-era GU-503 aviation gyro unit. Multiple strikes have deviated by tens of kilometers from targets, including a notable strike on a civilian garage cooperative in Bila Tserkva on May 24, 2026, instead of military targets. Internal documents reveal that production facilities lacked the technology and components to properly calibrate or mass-produce the gyro units, causing accuracy failures. Vladimir Putin publicly reframed the system as still in testing after initial claims of mass production. The platform remains a volatile risk due to its advanced range and nuclear capability, with deployment in Belarus further threatening Western security. The article is based on leaked official correspondence, forensic debris analysis, and expert interviews.

The article investigates the performance and deployment issues of Russia's Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile. After the first strike in Dnipro, Ukraine in November 2024, Russia rushed production despite critical manufacturing bottlenecks in the guidance system—specifically the outdated and uncalibrated Soviet-era GU-503 aviation gyro unit. Multiple strikes have deviated by tens of kilometers from targets, including a notable strike on a civilian garage cooperative in Bila Tserkva on May 24, 2026, instead of military targets. Internal documents reveal that production facilities lacked the technology and components to properly calibrate or mass-produce the gyro units, causing accuracy failures. Vladimir Putin publicly reframed the system as still in testing after initial claims of mass production. The platform remains a volatile risk due to its advanced range and nuclear capability, with deployment in Belarus further threatening Western security. The article is based on leaked official correspondence, forensic debris analysis, and expert interviews.