In a bold retaliation, Russia has unleashed its cutting-edge Oreshnik hypersonic missile against Ukraine, claiming it as direct payback for a drone strike targeting President Vladimir Putin’s residence. The strike, which occurred late Thursday night, targeted critical infrastructure linked to Ukraine’s drone operations, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
The Oreshnik, an intermediate-range ballistic missile, boasts speeds exceeding Mach 10—ten times the speed of sound—making it virtually impossible to intercept, as Putin himself has proclaimed. Capable of carrying nuclear warheads, this missile was deployed conventionally in this instance, sending a stark message without escalating to atomic levels.
Footage released by Russian sources captures the dramatic moment: flashes lighting up a snow-covered landscape in western Ukraine, followed by a massive initial explosion and a chain of subsequent blasts. Local media corroborated the attack, pinpointing drone production facilities as the primary targets—facilities allegedly responsible for the assault on Putin’s Novo-Ogaryovo residence near Moscow.
Russia’s arsenal also included attack drones and long-range sea- and ground-launched weapons, amplifying the barrage. ‘All targets were successfully hit,’ the ministry stated succinctly, underscoring the precision of the operation.
The Oreshnik represents Russia’s next-generation strike capability, designed not just for destruction but for deterrence. Its name, evoking the resilience of the hazel tree in Russian military nomenclature, symbolizes unyielding power. Blending blistering speed, extended range, and pinpoint accuracy, it challenges enemy air defenses and deepens strategic pressure on adversaries.
This deployment serves dual purposes: punishing the drone incursion and signaling to Ukraine and its Western backers that Russia possesses weapons capable of piercing any shield. As the conflict grinds on, such high-tech escalations highlight the evolving nature of modern warfare, where hypersonic threats redefine the rules of engagement.