Russia Strikes Dnipro with Hypersonic 'Oreshnik' Missile in Response to Western Missile Attacks

Nov 21, 2024, 05:19 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia has tested its new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile, the Oreshnik, traveling at speeds of up to 10 Machs, in a strike on a Ukrainian defense industry facility in Dnipro. The missile attack was in response to recent strikes on Russian military facilities in the Bryansk and Kursk regions using Western-supplied long-range missiles, including the U.S.-made ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles. Putin stated that the conflict in Ukraine has become global in nature following these attacks and warned that Russia considers itself entitled to use weapons against the facilities of countries whose weapons are used against Russia. He emphasized that existing missile defense systems, including American elements in Europe, cannot intercept the Oreshnik missile. Putin also stated that Russia will warn civilians in advance if such hypersonic weapons are to be used and that Russia will decide on the further deployment of missiles depending on the enemy's actions. Additionally, he asserted that the use of Western long-range weapons against Russian territory is impossible without the direct involvement of military specialists from the manufacturing countries and that Russia prefers peaceful means but will respond decisively to any escalation. Putin criticized the United States for ending the missile treaty and claimed that the enemy did not achieve its goals with the recent attacks.