President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia will keep testing its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile in combat scenarios.
He announced this on Friday while speaking with defense officials and missile developers. Putin emphasized that the missile, which was recently used in Ukraine for the first time, has proven effective and more deployments are planned.
“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,” Putin stated in televised remarks. He also confirmed that Russia has a reserve stock of these missiles ready for operational use.
First Deployment in Ukraine
The Oreshnik missile, classified as intermediate-range with a reach of 3,000-5,500 kilometers (1,860-3,415 miles), was launched into Ukraine on Thursday. This marks its first use in active combat and was framed by Putin as a response to Ukraine’s deployment of U.S.-supplied ballistic missiles and British cruise missiles against Russian targets.
Rising Tensions Between Russia and the West
The deployment of the Oreshnik missile coincides with escalating hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. Both nations have recently targeted each other with increasingly advanced weaponry. Moscow has accused the U.S. and its allies of direct involvement in the conflict by authorizing Ukraine to use Western missiles deep inside Russian territory.
In a move signaling heightened readiness, Putin on Tuesday approved policy changes that lower the threshold for Russia’s use of nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks.
Strategic Implications of the Oreshnik Missile
The range of the Oreshnik missile enables Russia to strike targets anywhere in Europe or even the western United States, significantly broadening its strategic reach. This development has further strained relations between Russia and NATO, raising concerns about the intensification of the conflict.
Bottom Line
Russia’s introduction of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile underscores the growing intensity of its military campaign in Ukraine and its escalating confrontation with the West. The missile’s advanced capabilities and the Kremlin’s readiness to use it in combat could have profound implications for global security and the trajectory of the war.
