Putin: Russia Strikes Ukrainian Defense Facility With New Oreshnik Ballistic Missile

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the personnel of the Russian Armed Forces and the citizens of Russia to provide an update on events in the area of the special military operation.

"I want to inform the personnel of the Russian Armed Forces, the citizens of our country, our friends around the world, as well as those who still harbor illusions about the possibility of delivering a strategic defeat to Russia, about the events currently unfolding in the zone of the special military operation, particularly in light of the use of long-range Western-made weapons against our territory," Putin said in his address on Thursday.

Long-range Western-made missiles targeted military facilities in Russia’s Kursk and Bryansk regions.

"On November 19, six ATACMS tactical missiles produced in the United States, and on November 21, during a combined missile attack, Storm Shadow systems produced in the United Kingdom struck military targets on Russian territory in the Bryansk and Kursk regions," Putin said.

However, Russia’s air defense systems intercepted the attacks, and the adversary failed to achieve its objectives, Putin added.

"Our air defense systems repelled these attacks," the president stated. "As a result, the objectives clearly set by the adversary were not achieved."

Western long-range missile strikes on Russian territory have given the conflict in Ukraine a global dimension, Putin noted in the address.

The use of Western long-range missiles against Russia will not affect the course of the special military operation (SMO), Putin assured.

"I want to emphasize once again that the adversary’s use of such weapons cannot influence the course of hostilities in the special military operation zone," he said in his statement. "Our forces are advancing successfully along the entire line of contact. All the objectives we set for ourselves will be accomplished."

Russia will respond decisively and reciprocally in the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, President Vladimir Putin stated.

"In the case of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond just as decisively and reciprocally. I recommend that the ruling elites of those countries contemplating plans to use their military contingents against Russia take this seriously," he said.

The United States made a mistake by destroying the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) in 2019, the president added.

"The question of further deployment of intermediate- and short-range missiles will be decided by us depending on the actions of the United States and its satellites. Targets for strikes during future tests of our advanced missile systems will be determined based on the threats to the security of the Russian Federation," Putin said in the address to the Russian people.

The Oreshnik missile system is being tested in combat conditions as a response to NATO countries' aggressive actions against Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced.

"In response to the use of American and British weaponry on November 21 this year, Russian armed forces conducted a combined strike on one of Ukraine's defense-industrial complex facilities. This included testing one of Russia's latest medium-range missile systems in combat conditions. In this case, a ballistic missile equipped with non-nuclear hypersonic technology, referred to as Oreshnik by our missile forces," Putin stated during his address.

Modern air defense systems cannot intercept Oreshnik missiles, which attack targets at a speed of Mach 10—about 2.5-3 kilometers per second, Putin explained.

"Existing modern air defense systems worldwide, including the missile defense systems created by Americans in Europe, cannot intercept such missiles. It’s impossible," Putin said in his speech.

Targets for further testing of Russia's newest missile systems will be chosen based on threats to the country.

"Targets for engagement during further testing of our newest missile complexes will be determined based on threats to the security of the Russian Federation," he added.

Russia will also provide prior warnings to civilians in Ukraine and citizens of friendly nations to leave potential strike zones, Putin assured.

"When selecting targets for such systems as Oreshnik on Ukrainian territory, we will ensure that civilians, as well as citizens of friendly nations present in those areas, are advised to leave potential danger zones in advance. This will be done openly, publicly, and out of humanitarian considerations, without fear of opposition from the enemy," Putin emphasized during his address.

The president also warned that Russia reserves the right to use weapons against military targets in countries whose weapons are used against it.