Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia would continue field testing of the new Oleshnik hypersonic missile and prepare a usable inventory, but Ukraine already has air systems to counter the weapon. He said that he is working on the development of
Putin, 72, spoke a day after Russia fired its first new intermediate-range weapon into Ukraine, a move that comes after Ukraine used a U.S. ballistic missile and a British cruise missile to attack Russia. He said that was the trigger.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kiev was working with Western partners to build a system to counter “new risks.”
President Putin said that the first use of oleshnik (hazel tree) was a successful experiment, and that many more would follow.
“We will continue these tests, including in combat situations, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threat created for Russia,” he said in televised comments to defense officials and missile developers. Ta.
“Furthermore, we have such products in stock and we also have such systems in stock ready for use.”
However, US officials said the weapons used by Russia were experimental. The official said Russia has a limited number of weapons, and this is not a capability that Russia can regularly deploy on the battlefield.
The intermediate missile has a range of 1,860 to 3,415 miles, allowing it to strike from Russia anywhere in Europe or the western United States.
Security experts say the novel feature of the Oleshnik missile is that it carries multiple warheads that can attack different targets simultaneously, which is typically a long-range missile designed to carry nuclear warheads. He said it was associated with an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Ukraine said the missile reached a top speed of more than 8,000 miles per hour and took about 15 minutes to reach its target after launch.
The missile launches were part of a sharp rise in tensions this week as both Ukraine and Russia attacked each other's territory with increasingly powerful weapons.
The Russian government says the United States and its allies are entering direct conflict with Russia after Ukraine gave the green light to launch Western missiles deep into Russia. On Tuesday, President Putin approved policy changes that would lower the threshold for Russia to use nuclear weapons in response to a conventional attack.
President Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address that Russia's use of new missiles was an escalation.
“On my behalf, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine is already holding talks with partners about new air defense systems that can protect lives from new risks,” he said. “If someone starts using other countries not just for terrorism, but for testing new missiles in acts of terrorism, this is clearly an international crime.”
He said Ukrainians need to remain vigilant.
“We must recognize that 'comrade' President Putin will continue to try to intimidate us,” he said. “That's how he built up all his power.”
The Kremlin said Oleshnik's shooting warned Western countries not to take further “reckless” actions or decisions in support of Ukraine.
Oreshnik was launched with a conventional warhead, not a nuclear one. Putin said that although it is not a strategic nuclear weapon, its striking power and accuracy make it a worthy weapon, “especially when used in large groups and in combination with other high-precision long-range systems.” He said influence means equal.
He said there was no chance the missile would be shot down by an enemy.
“I would like to add that today's world has no countermeasures or means of intercepting such missiles,” and once again emphasizes that testing of this modern system will continue. It is necessary to establish continuous production. ”
