In a surprise address to the nation Thursday night, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia has tested a new medium-range missile in its most recent attack against Ukraine.
It is about an Oreshnik medium-range missile without a nuclear payload, which was launched against a facility in Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, Putin explained in a hard-line speech to the nation after days of escalation in the Ukraine conflict.
“In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons on November 21 of this year, the Russian Armed Forces launched a combined attack on one of the facilities of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex”noted the Russian leader. He added that in this way “one of the new Russian medium-range missile systems” was tested in combat conditions.
The president also maintained that the conflict that began in February 2022 took on aspects of a “global nature”: “Following long-range attacks from Ukraine, the regional conflict has acquired elements of a global conflict.”
Putin stated that Moscow has the right to attack military targets of countries whose weapons are used by Ukraine to hit Russian territory.
“We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military installations of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our installations,” Putin declared. “In the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond with the same decision”he added.
He also described the Oreshnik as a “ballistic missile” deployed in this case “in a non-nuclear hypersonic configuration,” and stated that this Thursday’s “test” had been a success and had achieved its objective.
According to Putin, air defenses cannot intercept the Oreshnik, which attacks at a speed of Mach 10, that is, between 2.5 and 3 kilometers per second. “Modern air defense systems… cannot intercept these types of missiles. “It’s impossible,” he said. “Today there are no means to counter such a weapon,” the Russian president boasted.
The president warned that Russia is “prepared” for any scenario.
“We have always preferred, and are now willing, to resolve all disputed issues by peaceful means, but also We are prepared for any development of events. If anyone doubts this, they are wrong. There will always be an answer.”Putin said.
In the message, which lasted 8 minutes, Putin confirmed the recent attacks on Russian territory with long-range American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles, which were directed against the military infrastructure of the border regions of Bryansk and Kursk.
According to the Russian leader, the country’s anti-aircraft defenses repelled these attacks and did not allow the enemy to achieve their objectives.
At the same time, he insisted that The use of long-range weapons by kyiv after receiving the respective Western authorization will not be able to influence the fate of the war.
Putin assured that Russian forces are advancing “along the entire line of contact” in Ukraine and all the objectives that Moscow set “will be achieved.”
The head of the Kremlin, who approved this week the new Russian nuclear doctrine, which allows responses with atomic weapons in the event of attacks with conventional weapons, warned at the time that the use of long-range Western weapons against Russian territory would mean that NATO is in combat with Russia.
This Thursday he said that Russia was testing the Oreshnik in combat conditions “in response to the aggressive actions of NATO countries towards Russia.”
(With information from AFP and EFE)
