Putin Announces Combat Testing of Hypersonic Oreshnik Missiles Amid Ukraine Tensions

Russia’s Hypersonic Missile Testing Escalates Tensions with Ukraine

MOSCOW, KOMPAS.com – President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will continue testing the new Oreshnik hypersonic missile under combat conditions. This statement came a day after the missile was first launched at Ukrainian targets, including the city of Dnipro.

The Oreshnik missile can reach speeds of up to Mach 11 and carries six submunition warheads, raising significant concerns in Ukraine and among Western nations. According to The Guardian, the Kremlin stated that this launch was a response to the use of long-range missiles by the U.S. and the U.K. by Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia.

Putin emphasized, “We have a stockpile of these missiles and will continue to use them depending on the threats faced by Russia.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia’s actions as an escalation that endangers civilians. In a recent address, he stated, “When a country uses terror to test new weapons, it is a crime against humanity.” Zelensky also indicated that Ukraine is collaborating with Western partners to develop more advanced air defense systems to counter this new threat.

Ukrainian Defense Ministry officials are in talks with NATO and other allies to seek additional support. On Friday, the Ukrainian parliament canceled its session due to the threat of missile attacks, a move that also followed the temporary closure of several foreign embassies in Kyiv. Some lawmakers criticized this cancellation for causing unnecessary panic.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, clarified that the hypersonic missile launch serves as a warning to Western nations against deeper involvement in the conflict. Peskov stated that Russia notified the United States 30 minutes before the missile launch, even though it was not required to do so. He added that President Putin remains open to dialogue but holds President Joe Biden responsible for escalating the conflict.

In response to Russia’s hypersonic missile deployment, NATO has scheduled an emergency meeting with Ukraine for Tuesday. This meeting will focus on enhanced air defense measures to combat the threats posed by Russia.

This escalating situation highlights ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, impacting civilians and international relations significantly.