Putin’s ‘unstoppable’ nuke-ready missile blows up troops | World | News

Russian forces are believed to have been hit by one of Vladimir Putin’s “unstoppable” new missiles in a shocking friendly fire incident. Experts believe an Oreshnik hypersonic missile struck Russian positions in Donetsk, occupied Ukraine, after malfunctioning in a humiliating blow to the Kremlin.

Oreshnik missiles, which can carry nuclear or conventional warheads, are believed to have a range of 3,100-3,400 miles. Video analysis by the Institute for the Study of War suggests the missile’s six-warhead kinetic blasts happened off course. The video reportedly showed explosions near Donetsk landmarks, including an unfinished shopping centre.

It is also thought that the missile’s warheads struck the contested Russian-occupied towns of Avdiivka or Yasynuvata, around 25 miles behind Russian lines, according to The Sun.

Ukrainian military channels also believe the error could have seen Russian military positions struck.

The malfunction was reportedly part of a double-fire from the Kapustin Yar test site in Russia’s western Astrakhan region on May 24.

The missile was launched at around 1am, malfunctioning immediately, while the second missile struck a target near Kyiv, The Sun reports.

The £40 million nuclear-capable Oreshnik was first used in anger by Russia in November last year in an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

The strike was so powerful and unusual that Ukrainian authorities voiced concerns it could have been an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Mr Putin later said it was the Oreshnik, claiming it is impossible to intercept.

He said the missile travels at Mach 10 — 10 times the speed of sound — and that “there are currently no ways of counteracting this weapon”.

The head of GCHQ last week claimed Russia is “going backwards on the battlefield”.

Anne Keast-Butler’s comments came after a new analysis suggested Russia’s rate of advance is slowing, with Ukrainian forces starting to regain more ground than they are losing for the first time since 2023.

Ukraine launched new strikes overnight on Sunday on Russian energy sites.

Ukraine’s General Staff said Ukrainian drones struck the Saratov oil refinery in south- west Russia, causing a large-scale fire.

It claimed the refinery has been supplying Moscow’s war effort.