Russia used new 'Oreshnik' intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine, Putin says
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that during the Nov. 21 strike on Dnipro, Russia tested a new intermediate-range ballistic missile — Oreshnik (Hazel).
Russian forces launched a missile attack on the city earlier in the day, reportedly using a new type of ballistic missile. Ukrainian authorities have not confirmed the type of missile used in the strike.
Putin claimed Ukraine targeted facilities in Russia’s Kursk and Bryansk oblasts with long-range ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles on Nov. 19 and 20. In response, Russian forces launched a combined attack on a defense industry facility in Dnipro, according to the Russian president.
The Oreshnik missile is designed to carry nuclear weapons. However, Putin said it was not armed with a nuclear warhead in this instance.
Putin warned that Russia would use weapons against any country whose arms are used to strike Russian targets.
Putin claimed that the U.S. was allegedly planning to produce and deploy medium- and shorter-range missiles in Ukraine.
The Russian president also promised that he would warn Ukrainian civilians and citizens of other countries in advance to leave the area of possible weapons impact.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier that Putin is using Ukraine as "a testing ground" by launching missiles at Ukrainian cities.
The recent attack against damaged an industrial enterprise, two houses, and nine garages and caused two fires, said Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak. A rehabilitation center for people with disabilities was also damaged, Mayor Borys Filatov said.
Two people were injured in the strike.
Chris York
