Russia’s war of aggression: Putin announces series production of new rocket

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised the new medium-range missile used in the shelling of the Ukrainian city of Dnipro as unique in the world and has announced series production. “Nobody else in the world has a weapon like this,” said the Kremlin chief at a meeting with senior military officials and representatives of the arms industry. The decision for series production has been made and it has practically already been organized. Moscow will continue testing the rocket, including in combat operations, he emphasized.

The rocket, known as the Oreshnik (German: nut bush), is not a modernization of Soviet technology, but rather a testament to the technical progress of Russian engineering and the strength of the defense sector, said a visibly satisfied Putin. “The results of their use are comparable to the use of strategic weapon systems in terms of their effect and performance.”

The Oreshnik system is neither a strategic weapon nor a weapon of mass destruction because it can also be used in a very targeted manner, he added. According to Moscow, the missile will fly at hypersonic speeds and be inaccessible to anti-aircraft systems. This information could not initially be independently confirmed. Experts assume that the rocket could technically also be equipped with nuclear warheads.

New rocket attack as a message to the West

Russia fired a new medium-range ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday. According to Russian information, an arms factory in Dnipro was attacked. Moscow also deliberately used the launch of the rocket to deter the West. This should be prevented from continuing to support Ukraine, which is being attacked by Russia – especially not with long-range missiles to fire at military objects on Russian territory.