Russia delivered a thunderous response to Ukraine’s audacious drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s home, launching the fearsome Oreshnik hypersonic missile in a nighttime assault on key Ukrainian targets. Moscow’s military confirmed the operation hit its marks, focusing on infrastructure vital to Kyiv’s unmanned aerial capabilities.
President Putin has long touted the Oreshnik’s invincibility, with its hypersonic velocity rendering interception a futile dream. Clocking speeds over ten times that of sound, this intermediate-range weapon can deliver nuclear payloads, though no such armament was reported in this salvo.
The Russian Defense Ministry detailed the multi-pronged attack, incorporating long-range missiles from land and sea platforms alongside swarms of strike drones. A gripping video from the scene shows six bright flares descending on a frozen western Ukrainian terrain, igniting a colossal detonation that triggered secondary explosions.
Reports from local outlets aligned with official accounts, identifying the facilities as drone manufacturing hubs implicated in the earlier strike on Putin’s residence. ‘Targets destroyed late Thursday,’ the ministry announced, emphasizing operational success.
What sets Oreshnik apart is its role in Russia’s strategic playbook. Far beyond a mere projectile, it’s a platform fusing hypersonic rush, vast reach, and lethal precision—ideal for dismantling fortified enemy positions. Its nomenclature draws from ‘hazel tree,’ a nod to endurance, though its true prowess lies in undisclosed technical specs.
Beyond immediate retaliation, Oreshnik’s use projects deterrence: a reminder to foes that Russia’s technological edge can bypass defenses and strike at the heart of military operations. In the broader Ukraine conflict, this move amplifies Moscow’s narrative of resolve, potentially shifting tactical dynamics as both sides probe each other’s limits.