Putin says Russia may hit Kyiv decision centers with Oreshnik strikes

 Putin made the statement during the CSTO summit, according to TASS.

"Kyiv's decision-making centers are potential targets for Oreshnik," Putin declared.

He claimed that the missile has no global equivalent and "won't have one anytime soon." Putin also alleged that Russia was "forced" to use Oreshnik in response to Ukraine's actions.

For now, he said, the Russian General Staff and Defense Ministry are identifying targets in Ukraine for strikes with this missile. He added that, in the event of widespread use, Oreshnik's strike capacity could rival that of nuclear weapons.

Putin further announced that Russia has begun mass-producing Oreshnik missiles.

"We also have several other systems ready for use, similar to Oreshnik," he added.

Background

On the morning of November 21, Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), a Kinzhal missile, and a Kh-101 missile over Ukraine. Air defense forces successfully shot down six of these targets.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed that during the November 21 attack on Dnipro, Russia tested its Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile. He warned that Moscow would “respond to escalation.”

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Russia’s use of this new ballistic missile a second step towards further escalation, following the involvement of North Korean military personnel in the conflict.

On the evening of November 21, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong response to Putin’s claims about the use of the Oreshnik missile against Ukraine.

According to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, the strike on Dnipro involved a ballistic missile from the Kedr system, carrying 36 submunitions. Initially, it was thought to be an RS-26 “Rubezh” ICBM, but Putin later referred to it as the medium-range Oreshnik missile.

Putin stated that Moscow would continue testing the Oreshnik missile system, calling it a “guarantor of sovereignty” and claiming it represents the work of experts in what he calls the “new Russia.”

Ukraine’s Security Service presented evidence of this latest Russian act of aggression, sharing fragments of the Oreshnik missile with international media after it struck Dnipro.