Vladimir Putin's new "unstoppable" hypersonic missile struck his own Russian troops in a disastrous malfunction last week, according to experts.
The Oreshnik missile, capable of travelling at ten times the speed of sound and carrying multiple warheads, is said to have rained down on Russian-held positions in occupied Donetsk on May 24.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War examined video footage, which appears to show the missile's six-warhead kinetic explosions landing dramatically off target.
Ukrainian monitoring channels have suggested the weapon may have hit Russian military positions, turning Moscow's prized superweapon into what observers are calling a spectacular own goal.
The malfunctioning missile, valued at approximately £40million, is thought to have veered off course following a double launch from Russia's Kapustin Yar test site.
According to reports, the first weapon fired at around 1am on May 24 failed immediately after launch and descended on Donetsk, while the second successfully reached its intended target in Bila Tserkva near Kyiv.
Footage captured explosions in proximity to Donetsk landmarks, including the incomplete Rose Park shopping centre in Russian-controlled territory.
The warheads are believed to have impacted the fiercely contested towns of Avdiivka or Yasynuvata, situated roughly 25 miles behind the Russian frontlines.
The Oreshnik missile is said to have reined down on Russian-held positions in occupied Donetsk
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The Oreshnik system is said to experience malfunctions in as many as one in four launches.
The failure comes as Mr Putin has reportedly instructed the construction of a new launch facility for the nuclear-capable missile in Belarus.
The planned base in the Russian-allied state would position the weapons system close to Nato member nations' borders, raising concerns among Western allies.
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The incident appears to be a significant setback for the Kremlin, which has repeatedly promoted the Oreshnik as an unstoppable addition to Russia's strategic arsenal.
The missile malfunction coincided with threatening rhetoric from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who warned of potential strikes against nuclear power facilities in both Ukraine and Western nations.
Mr Medvedev, who serves as a security chief under Mr Putin, issued the warning after Moscow faced accusations of fabricating claims Ukrainian forces had attacked the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with a drone.
Vladimir Putin has reportedly instructed the construction of a new launch facility for the nuclear-capable missile in Belarus
| REUTERS"The response to such actions could be a symmetrical strike against Ukrainian nuclear power plants as well as Nato countries involved in the conflict," Mr Medvedev stated.
Kyiv rejected responsibility for any drone attack and accused Russia of staging a false flag operation designed to escalate tensions.
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