We came across the posts on the following topic on the social media platform X, YouTube and Reddit:

The posts contain videos and images of a large, bright, cloud-like structure in a dark sky, with footage shown from multiple angles. The structure appears to be growing larger in the trail of a fast-moving projectile high in the sky.

The posts described the object at the head of the trail as a Russian missile, with different descriptions of the missile as hypersonic missile named ‘Oreshnik’, a ‘MIRV’-equipped missile and a space missile.

Some of the posts specified that it showed the Russian missile before it hit the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. This appears to be a reference to Russian missile attack on Dnipro on 21 November.

When we conducted a further search on X for descriptions of the missile used in the attack, we found it described in various other ways in addition to those in the posts, including as an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile), and IRBM (intermediate range ballistic missile), an RS-26 missile, an experimental missile, and a UFO missile.

Unpacking the Attack

News reports of the attack reveal that there were different characterisations of the missile used in the attack, which may explain the varied descriptions. Ukraine initially characterised the missile as an ICBM, before the US responded by describing it as an IRBM.

The Russian president Putin later appeared on local television and backed up the US description of the missile. He described it as an IRBM named Oreshnik that was capable of dropping multiple independently targetable warheads (MIRVs, also known as multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles).

He added that it was the latest weapon in Russia’s arsenal of hypersonic missiles, and that it could penetrate the most modern of air defence systems operated by western countries.

Due to the novelty of the Oreshnik missile, there is a high likelihood that the descriptions settled upon by the various parties involved were subject to political considerations.

ICBMs differ from IRBMs primarily in terms of their maximum range—only ICBMs have the capability to strike beyond 5,500 km. These missiles both utilise a high-arching ballistic trajectory, may utilise MIRVs, and are primarily used to deliver nuclear warheads over long distances.

Meanwhile, hypersonic missiles often describe manoeuvrable missiles carrying conventional warheads used in precision strikes. These were first used by Russia in Ukraine in May 2023. The Oreshnik appears to be a hypersonic-capable version of the RS-26, which has characteristics of both ICBMs and IRBMs.

Verified Video

A web search of the Oreshnik IRBM missile attacks did not reveal the images seen in the posts. However, news reports from reputable outlets such as CNN, Reuters, ABC and Deutsche Welle, along with Russian media channels such as RT, all showed footage of the attacks from different angles.

Each video showed bright flashes in the dark night sky as the individual warheads appeared to enter through the clouds. From closer angles, the large bright streaks of the missiles were visible as they fell to Earth.

Despite the similarities, it is clear with comparison that the images differ from those in the posts above, and that none of the sources had claimed to have captured the missiles in flight on video.

A reverse image search of the images in the post instead pointed us to the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in California in 2017. Though we were unable to locate the original video that is shown in the posts, several other videos and pictures show a cloud trail similar to that in the videos, but from different angles.

Even in 2017, the cloud trails created panic among some residents, who believed they were witnessing UFOs (unidentified flying objects).

More recent launches of the Falcon 9 rockets have continued to create similar patterns in the sky, which result from a combination of illumination from the setting sun and suitable weather conditions.

We did not find any evidence of similar videos and images being used in news reports, either by credible sources or Russian news sources, despite their potentially alarming quality.

As such, we find it highly likely to be false that the videos show the new Russian missiles used to attack Ukraine in flight. Rather, they are likely to be footage from one of many Falcon 9 rocket launches by SpaceX.