Russia's announcement of mass production of the Oreshnik missile comes after the hypersonic missile was used for the first time in combat earlier this week in Ukraine.
Speaking at a meeting at the Kremlin with leaders of the Ministry of Defense and representatives of the defense industry on November 22, President Putin stated that the Oreshnik missile - one of Russia's latest military advances - does not come from modernizing old Soviet weapons. Instead, this missile was developed based on advanced hypersonic technology and modern materials.
"This is the result of work carried out in the conditions of the new Russia," Putin said, stressing that the Oreshnik missile was created to meet modern defense needs.
President Putin confirmed that some Oreshnik missiles are being tested in Russia and a decision has been made to mass produce them. Many other missile systems are expected to be transferred to the Russian Strategic missile Forces in the coming months.
The Oreshnik missile was first used in combat on November 21 when Russia attacked Ukrainian defense facilities in Dnepropetrovsk. The target of Russia's latest missile attack was Yuzhmash - one of Ukraine's largest defense industrial facilities inherited from the Soviet era, specializing in the production of missile equipment and other weapons.
Mr. Putin said that the use of the Oreshnik missile was in response to Kiev's attacks on the Russian interior with long-range weapons provided by the West such as the US ATACMS missile and the UK Storm Shadow missile.
The Oreshnik is described as a medium-range hypersonic weapon designed for high-precision strikes. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, all warheads of the missile reached targets in its first deployment this week.
President Putin also stressed the importance of continuing testing and increasing production of the latest missile, according to RT. I congratulate the military for successfully testing and support the application of this system, he said.
Also according to RT, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russia has a reserve of the new Oreshnik medium-range missile.
"As you know, no one in the world has such a weapon. Other countries are studying similar developments, but they will not have this system for at least the next year or two. And we have this missile today. This is an important advantage," he stressed.
The Russian leader also highlighted the advanced capabilities of the Oreshnik missile. Mr. Putin stated that the Oreshnik missile currently has no opponents to counter or intercept. No measure in the world today can counteract or intercept such a missile, Putin said.
Although the Oreshnik missile is not classified as a strategic weapon or a means of mass destruction, Mr. Putin affirmed that its accuracy and destructive power make the new missile a valuable asset of Russia, playing an important role in Russia's defense strategy.
Oreshnik is the only weapon and we will continue to test and deploy it when necessary to protect the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
