Putin declares success of Oreshnik missile test, vows more to come

President Vladimir Putin stated on on November 22 that Russia will continue testing its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile in combat situations and has a stockpile ready for deployment. 

This announcement came as Ukraine reported it was already working on air defense systems to counter the missile, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Putin's remarks followed the first operational use of the Oreshnik, which Russia launched into Ukraine, a move he attributed to Ukraine’s use of US ballistic missiles and British cruise missiles against Russian targets.

He described the initial deployment of the Oreshnik (named after the hazel tree) as a successful test, promising more tests to come. “We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia,” he said during a televised meeting with defence officials and missile developers. “Moreover, we have a stock of such products, a stock of such systems ready for use.”

Moscow argues that by allowing Ukraine to use Western missiles deep within Russia, the U.S. and its allies are directly engaging in conflict with Russia. In response to these tensions, Putin approved policy changes earlier this week that reduce the threshold for Russia to use nuclear weapons if attacked with conventional arms.

The Kremlin described the Oreshnik launch as a warning to the West against further “reckless” actions supporting Ukraine. Putin clarified that the Oreshnik was launched with conventional warheads and not as a strategic nuclear weapon, but emphasized its striking power and accuracy could have comparable effects, especially when deployed in large numbers alongside other precision long-range systems.

He asserted that the missile is invulnerable to interception, stating, “I will add that there is no countermeasure to such a missile, no means of intercepting it, in the world today.” He reiterated, “And I will emphasize once again that we will continue testing this newest system. It is necessary to establish serial production.”

On November 21 Putin announced that Moscow had launched a new-generation intermediate-range missile, which he suggested could carry a nuclear payload. A NATO spokesperson responded, emphasizing that the deployment of such missiles would not alter the course of the conflict nor deter NATO members from continuing their support for Ukraine.

Putin stated that the missile strike was a retaliation for Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons supplied by the United States and the United Kingdom, which targeted Russian territory. He also warned that Russia considers itself "entitled" to strike military facilities in countries that permit Ukraine to use its weapons against Russia.

This escalation follows Ukraine's recent use of long-range missiles supplied by the US and UK, marking a significant increase in tensions as the conflict enters its third year.

The United States, a leading NATO member, condemned Russia for "escalating at every turn" in the conflict. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also revealed that Moscow had notified Washington via the automatic nuclear de-escalation hotline about the missile launch 30 minutes before it occurred.

By Tamilla Hasanova