Ukraine said it was already working on developing air systems to defeat the weapon, while Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that Russia will continue testing its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile in war and had a stock ready for use. Putin was speaking a day after Russia launched the new intermediate-range weapon into Ukraine for the first time, claiming that Ukraine’s employment of British cruise missiles and American ballistic missiles to strike Russia was the reason for the move.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Kyiv was developing countermeasures against “new risks” in collaboration with its Western allies.
Putin declared that the initial test of Oreshnik (hazel tree) was successful and that more will be used.
“We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia,” he said in televised comments to defence officials and missile developers. “Moreover, we have a stock of such products, a stock of such systems ready for use.”
However, a U.S. official claimed that Russia’s missile was experimental. According to the official, Russia only possesses a small number of them and is unable to frequently use this capability on the battlefield.battlefield. With a range of 3,000–5,500 km (1,860-3,415 miles), intermediate missiles could hit from Russia anyplace in Europe or the western United States.
The Oreshnik missile’s unique feature, according to security experts, was that it carried several warheads that could strike many targets at once. This is often found in longer-range intercontinental ballistic missiles that are intended to carry nuclear warheads. According to Ukraine, the missile took roughly 15 minutes to reach its target after launch and had a maximum speed of almost 13,000 kph (8,000 mph). The missile’s launch coincided with a dramatic increase in hostilities this week as Russia and Ukraine have attacked one other’s territory with progressively more powerful weaponry.
Moscow claims that the United States and its allies are directly confronting Russia by allowing Ukraine to launch Western missiles deep inside Russia. Putin approved policy amendments on Tuesday that reduced the bar for Russia to respond to a conventional assault with nuclear weapons.
Zelenskiy, speaking in his nightly video address, has described Russia’s use of the new missile as an escalation.”On my behalf, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine is already holding meetings with our partners regarding new air defence systems capable of protecting lives from new risks,” he said.”When someone starts using other countries not only for terror, but also for testing their new missiles through acts of terror, then this is clearly an international crime.” “We must be aware that ‘comrade’ Putin will keep trying to intimidate us,” he said. “That is how he built all his power.”
The dismissal of Oreshnik, according to the Kremlin, served as a signal to the West not to make any more “reckless” choices or acts in support of Ukraine. Conventional warheads, not nuclear ones, were used to fire the Oreshnik. Despite not being a strategic nuclear weapon, Putin claimed that its impact would be equivalent because to its hitting strength and accuracy, “especially when used in a massive group and in combination with other high-precision long-range systems.”
He said the missile could not be shot down by an enemy.”I will add that there is no countermeasure to such a missile, no means of intercepting it, in the world today,” he said.”And I will emphasize once again that we will continue testing this newest system. It is necessary to establish serial production.”
