Overview
- Vladimir Putin announced the possibility of targeting Kyiv with the Orechnik hypersonic missile, citing Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory as justification.
- The Orechnik missile, used for the first time last week in Dnipro, can travel at Mach 10 (approximately 12,350 km/h) and generate temperatures nearing 4,000°C.
- Putin compared the missile's impact to a meteorite strike and claimed its destructive power rivals that of a nuclear weapon when used in multiple strikes, though it is not currently equipped with a nuclear warhead.
- The missile's intermediate range (3,000 to 5,500 km) makes it capable of reaching targets across Europe and potentially the western United States if launched from Russia's Far East.
- Ukrainian officials have urged Western allies to provide advanced air defense systems to counter the Orechnik, which is reportedly difficult to intercept due to its speed and maneuverability.