Russia recently executed a strike on the city of Dnipro, Ukraine, using its latest hypersonic ballistic missile, leaving the world in bewilderment. The attack was of another level altogether. Ukraine and its allies' air defense systems were unable to intercept it. Russia claimed it was merely a trial, with only low-yield weapons employed in the missile.
This incident sparked numerous questions regarding the missile. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed these queries during a press conference. Discover the astounding power of this missile through these questions and answers.
Source: aajtak
Could this be the missile that changes global warfare?
Putin:
When multiple systems are used in a strike, like two, three, or four, it could lead to a nuclear attack. However, this specific missile is not nuclear; it is a high-precision missile without nuclear warheads, ensuring no environmental harm.
What makes this missile so formidable and deadly?
Putin:
The missile strikes targets at over 11,000 km/h (Mach 10), approximately three kilometers per second. The weapons onboard generate temperatures of 4,000 degrees Celsius, capable of melting any metal or concrete in its path. For comparison, the sun’s surface temperature is 5,500 to 6,500 degrees Celsius. Wherever it lands, devastation is inevitable.
Source: aajtak
Can the American air defense system thwart it?
Putin:
The missile travels at Mach 10, and no existing air defense systems or missile defense systems, whether built by America or Europe, can stop it. It's simply unstoppable.
Source: aajtak
Can anything survive the impact of this missile?
Putin:
The weapon generates a temperature close to the sun's, creating devastation akin to a meteor impact. Such impacts in history have caused colossal destruction. Such force can create a crater significant enough to form a lake, leaving no chance of survival underground, no matter how deep.
Can the Oreshnik missile obliterate the most secure bunker?
Putin:
The missile's heat and speed enable it to destroy any bunker, similar to a meteor impact, which once led to the extinction of dinosaurs. This missile can unleash similar destruction within a limited range, turning everything at its center to ashes, no matter the strength of the bunker.
Does Russia possess many Oreshnik missiles?
Putin:
We have several Oreshnik missile systems at our disposal, ready for deployment at any time. If our adversaries continue attacks on our territories using long-range missiles from Western countries, we will continue to test this missile in battlefield conditions.
Do any other countries, including the US, have a weapon comparable to the Oreshnik?
Putin:
There is no equal to the Oreshnik system anywhere worldwide, and I'm skeptical any nation will develop a similar weapon soon.
When was its first test?
Putin:
On November 21, 2024, the Russian Armed Forces conducted a combined strike using this medium-range hypersonic missile on Ukraine's defense industrial sector. The attack aimed at the Dnipro military industry—where the most weapons are manufactured—was a battlefield test that ended successfully.
Is Russia mass-producing the Oreshnik missile?
Putin:
The Russian Defense Ministry and General Staff are identifying targets in Ukraine for potential strikes, including military installations, defense industries, and decision-making centers in Kyiv. Given Ukraine's continuous attacks on vital Russian locations—particularly in Saint Petersburg and Moscow—mass production of this missile is underway. The type of weaponry within the missile will be decided after target selection.
