Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Friday that the country has begun producing its latest hypersonic missiles and reiterated its intention to use them against its ally Belarus later this year.
Putin stated the military has already chosen deployment locations for the Oreshnik intermediate range ballistic missile in Belarus while seated next to Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on Valaam Island, which is close to St. Petersburg.
Putin stated that the first series of Oreshniks and their systems have been manufactured and are now in military service, adding, “Preparatory work is ongoing, and most likely we will be done with it before the year’s end.
The Oreshnik, which translates to “hazelnut tree” in Russian, was first deployed by Russia against Ukraine in November. The weapon was launched at a Dnipro plant that produced missiles during Ukraine’s time as a Soviet state.
Putin has lauded the Oreshnik’s capabilities, claiming that its several warheads, which can fall to a target at up to Mach 10, are impervious to interceptions and are so potent that a conventional assault involving dozens of them may be just as catastrophic as a nuclear attack.
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