President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Friday that Russia would continue testing its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile in combat, with a stockpile ready for use. His comments came one day after Russia launched the intermediate-range missile into Ukraine for the first time, marking a significant development in the ongoing conflict.
Putin stated that the missile’s first use was a successful test, and he emphasized that additional tests would follow. He also linked the missile’s deployment to Ukraine’s use of U.S. ballistic missiles and British cruise missiles to target Russian positions, suggesting that Russia’s missile development was in response to these actions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that Ukraine was already collaborating with its Western allies to develop defense systems designed to counter new threats such as the Oreshnik missile. Zelenskiy acknowledged the increased risks posed by the missile but assured that efforts were underway to protect Ukraine from this advanced weaponry.
The announcement underscores the growing intensity of the arms race between the two nations, as both sides continue to enhance their military capabilities.