Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a warning on Thursday suggesting that Russia could target “decision centers” in Kiev, including government ministries and the presidential office, with its new use. Oreshnik hypersonic missile.
This comes as a response to Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied missiles to attack Russian territory, raising tensions in the 33-month conflict.
Speaking at a summit of former Soviet states in Kazakhstan, Putin addressed the recent deployment of the Oreshnik, which Russia claims to have tested in combat for the first time last week in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. The missile, regarded by Putin as unstoppable, has been met with skepticism by Western experts.
“Of course, we will respond to ongoing attacks on Russian territory… possibly continuing to test the Oreshnik in combat conditions,” Putin said, adding that Russia’s defense forces are currently identifying potential targets in Ukraine.
Sharp strikes and escalating exchanges
The comments followed an overnight Russian attack on Ukraine, which President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned as a “despicable escalation”. According to Zelensky, the attack involved cruise missiles armed with cluster weapons and left more than a million Ukrainians without power. Russia framed the attack as retaliation for Ukraine’s use of US-supplied ATACMS missiles, which were deployed by Kiev against Russian targets, including the Kursk region, over the past week.
On 19 November, Ukraine launched its first ATACMS attack on Russian soil, prompting Moscow to retaliate with Oreshnik two days later. Kiev has also used British Storm Shadow cruise missiles following Western approval for strikes deep into Russian territory. Putin asserted that these actions showed the West’s “direct involvement” in the conflict.
New hypersonic weapon Oreshnik
The Oreshnik missile, described by Putin as a weapon of unparalleled destructive power, reached a speed of 13,600 km/h (8,450 mph) during its Nov. 21 deployment. Ukrainian officials noted that the missile carried dummy warheads during the test, but Western security experts warn that it could be armed with nuclear payloads.
Zelensky has urged the international community to condemn Russia’s use of Oreshnik, labeling it a serious escalation of the war. The escalating exchanges have also reignited nuclear fears, particularly after Putin recently expanded Russia’s nuclear doctrine to include additional scenarios guaranteeing the deployment of nuclear weapons.
