Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday suggested Russia could strike “decision-making centers” in Ukraine with its new Oreshnik missile as a potential response to Ukraine firing US and British missiles into Russian territory.
“The Defense Ministry and the General Staff of the Russian Army are currently selecting targets to strike on the territory of Ukraine,” Putin said at a Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) meeting in Kazakhstan, according to TASS.
In response to two recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory that used the US-provided Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which have a range of up to 190 miles, the Russian Defense Ministry said it was preparing retaliation.
“These targets may include military facilities, defense industry enterprises, or decision-making centers in Kiev,” Putin said.
The Oreshnik is a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile that is capable of being armed with nuclear warheads. Russia fired an Oreshnik missile into Ukraine on November 21 in response to US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles being fired into Russian territory for the first time.
Ukrainian officials said the Oreshnik was likely not carrying any explosives since it didn’t do any significant damage. Putin said on Thursday that Russia has started the serial production of the new missile.
When he announced the first Oreshnik launch on November 21, Putin also warned that he believes Russia has the right to strike the military facilities of countries supplying missiles to Ukraine that are hitting Russian territory.
“We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities,” Putin said. “If anyone else doubts this, then they are wrong – there will always be a response.”
