Putin scares Ukraine with Oreshnik missile again
Photo: Putin is ready to hit Kyiv with the Oreshnik missile (Getty Images)
Vladimir Putin is threatening to launch a new intercontinental ballistic missile, which he calls Oreshnik, against Ukraine, with Kyiv potentially being the target, the Russian media Kommersant reports.
Putin stated that the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense are selecting targets on Ukrainian territory, which may include "decision-making centers in Kyiv."
Speaking at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) council meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, Putin mentioned that "according to military and technical experts, in the case of a massive group deployment of these missiles - several 'Oreshnik' ones in a single strike - the power of this strike would be comparable to the use of nuclear weapons."
Putin claimed that Russia had begun serial production of the Oreshnik missiles. According to him, the temperature of its striking elements reaches 4,000 degrees, and everything in the explosion's epicenter "essentially turns to dust."
He added that the Oreshnik missile is allegedly capable of targeting even highly protected and deeply buried facilities.
Russian missile
On November 21, Russia struck Dnipro with a ballistic missile. Following the attack, Putin claimed that it was allegedly a new Oreshnik missile. The Kremlin leader also threatened that Russia could target military facilities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
Ukraine's Defense Intelligence clarified that "Oreshnik" is the name of a research project under which the missile was developed. The missile system itself is called Kedr.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, expressing Ukraine’s hope for support in acquiring air defense systems capable of intercepting such missiles.
