Putin signals potential use of Oreshnik hypersonic missiles on Kyiv

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that Moscow may use its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile to target “decision-making centers” in Kyiv, in retaliation for Ukraine’s use of Western missiles against Russian territory according to Reuters.

Key points

• Russia has avoided striking Ukrainian government institutions such as ministries, parliament, or the president’s office during the ongoing war.
• Kyiv is protected by sophisticated air defense systems, but Putin claims the Oreshnik missile is “incapable of being intercepted”—a statement met with skepticism by Western experts.
• Russia recently tested the Oreshnik missile on Nov. 21, targeting the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

Putin’s statements

We will respond to ongoing strikes on Russian territory with long-range Western-made missiles, including possibly testing the Oreshnik in combat conditions as we did on November 21.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

He added that the Russian Ministry of Defence and the General Staff are identifying targets in Ukraine, including military facilities, defense industries, and potential “decision-making centers” in Kyiv.

Russia’s response to ATACMS

• Putin linked a recent large-scale Russian missile strike on Ukraine to Kyiv’s use of U.S.-made ATACMS ballistic missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Russia’s missile attack, which targeted critical infrastructure and left over a million people without power, a “despicable escalation.”
• Russia claims that Ukraine first used ATACMS to strike western Russia on Nov. 19, prompting the missile launch at Dnipro. Since then, Russia says Ukraine has fired additional ATACMS at its Kursk region and has also used British Storm Shadow cruise missiles to strike deeper into Russian territory.

Escalating tensions

• Putin described the involvement of the U.S. and Britain in supplying weapons to Ukraine as “direct involvement” in the conflict. He reiterated that NATO’s weapons supply to Ukraine was escalating the war.
• Moscow claims its production of advanced missile systems outpaces that of NATO by a factor of 10, and plans to increase missile production.

Oreshnik missile

• Putin boasted that Russia’s Oreshnik missile, which he compared to a nuclear weapon due to its destructive power, can “atomize” targets upon impact. However, he clarified that the missile does not carry a nuclear warhead or cause radioactive contamination.
• Western analysts believe the Oreshnik missile could be adapted to carry a nuclear warhead, raising concerns about further escalation.
• Ukraine reported that the Oreshnik missile fired on Nov. 21 reached speeds of 13,600 kilometers per hour (8,450 miles per hour) and carried a dummy warhead instead of live explosives.

Global Context

• Zelenskyy called Russia’s use of the Oreshnik missile a “clear and severe escalation” and urged international condemnation.
• Despite heightened tensions and Putin’s recent updates to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, five U.S. intelligence sources told Reuters that allowing Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory with Western weapons has not increased the likelihood of a nuclear attack. They consider a nuclear strike still unlikely, despite Putin’s remarks.

What’s next

The situation remains tense, with both sides increasing their missile exchanges and the potential for further escalation looming over the war in Ukraine.

The international community is closely monitoring the developments, with concerns about the risks of nuclear involvement continuing to grow