Putin calls Oreshnik strike on occupied Donbas 'important'
Vladimir Putin, Kremlin leader (photo: Getty Images)
During a speech at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, which is being actively attacked by Ukrainian drones, Russian leader Putin decided to refute rumors that the occupiers' missile forces had lost an Oreshnik over the occupied Donetsk region. The master of the Kremlin stated that this had been planned for testing purposes, according to a broadcast of Putin's speech in Russian media.
Putin began praising Russian weapons and mentioned the Oreshnik. He claimed that, as it turns out, all strikes with the Oreshnik on Ukraine were not combat operations but tests.
"This is not combat use. In fact, we have had no combat use of the Oreshnik on the territory of Ukraine at all, in the full sense of the word," Putin said.
Regarding the missile falling in the occupied part of the Donetsk region, Putin made up a story that it was a special plan to conveniently observe the results.
"This concerns the area of the Donetsk People's Republic within the perimeter of the main fortified area. Then our drones flew into the shed that we struck, and simply looked at how the separating blocks were arranged. We calculated down to the millimeter everything, where it fell. This is important for us to make future decisions on the full-scale use of the Oreshnik against designated targets," said the Russian leader.
Context of the statement about Oreshnik
On the night of May 24, Russia carried out a massive combined strike on the territory of Ukraine. According to the Air Force, Russian units used 90 missiles and 600 drones of various types, including Oreshnik missiles.
Later, it was reported that one Oreshnik fell on the territory of the occupied Donetsk region. The Russian authorities did not comment on this in any way until Putin himself admitted the fact.
What else did Putin say regarding Ukraine?
The Russian leader believes that Russia has an air defense system that Ukraine does not have. Just on June 3, Ukrainian defenders attacked St. Petersburg with drones.
Putin also invented his own peace formula with Ukraine. He is unconditionally ready and wants to reach an agreement with Ukraine, but only on the basis of a meeting in Alaska with Trump.
