Russian state media are warning about the capabilities of the country's newly deployed "Oreshnik" nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles, which can reach any European capital in minutes after launch with its speeds exceeding Mach 10 (7,623 miles per hour).
Berlin could be hit in just 15 minutes. Cities as distant from the Kapustin Yar launch site as London and Paris in the United Kingdom and France, respectively, could be struck within 20 minutes. If the conflict escalates to a global scale, these populations would have little time to take shelter.
On Thursday, Nov. 21, Russia hit the Ukrainian city of Dnipro with new intermediate-range missiles. This action signaled that the West had crossed Russia's "red lines" after providing Ukraine with long-range weapons. (Related: Ukraine war going GLOBAL after West launches long-range missiles into Russia, crossing Putin's "red line.")
The Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate clarified that Oreshnik refers to a research project, while the operational missile system is called Kedr. Key specifications of Kedr include that it has six warheads, with each carrying six submunitions, and that it has a terminal speed that exceeds Mach 11 (8,440 miles per hour).
If Kedr is indeed a medium-range ballistic missile, as suggested, it could strike targets up to 5,500 kilometers (3,418 miles) away, violating the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which eliminated such missiles.
In July, Vladimir Putin warned: "Today, the development of such systems in Russia is nearing completion. We will take mirror measures to deploy them, considering the actions of the United States and its allies." Following the attack on Ukraine, many outlets initially mistook the missile for an ICBM, but Russia confirmed the use of Oreshnik, a hypersonic missile for which no defense system currently exists.
Use of Oreshnik in missile strike intended to deter any future escalation by the West
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the missile strike was meant to send a clear signal to Washington, emphasizing that the West now understands Russia's red lines. Putin warned that Ukraine's conflict has become a "global" one due to Western support, and hinted that attacks on Western targets are possible. The Russian foreign ministry singled out a U.S. missile base in Poland as a potential target.
Russian state media reported that Oreshnik can fly at Mach 10 and reach distances up to 5,500 kilometers. Retired Russian Col. Viktor Litovkin explained that the missile's speed and range surpass anything the West currently has. He also mocked U.S. claims about hypersonic missiles, stating that experimental U.S. missiles have not been able to demonstrate the ability to fly at speeds of Mach 6 to 7 (4,604 to 5,371 miles per hour) or faster, which is the threshold for reaching hypersonic speed.
Geopolitical analysts suggest Oreshnik represents a major shift in military power. The missile's hypersonic speeds, which can reach speeds of up to three to four kilometers per second (1.86 to 2.5 miles per second) during reentry, make it nearly invulnerable to current anti-air defense systems.
The missile could strike any European target in under 20 minutes, leaving no time for effective countermeasures. Experts warn that Europe is now defenseless against Russian weapons capable of hitting political and industrial centers with little notice.
Putin confirmed that Oreshnik was used in a successful strike on a Ukrainian defense facility. He emphasized that no air defense system can intercept these missiles, calling the strike a demonstration of Russia's new military advantage.
Despite his tough rhetoric, Putin reiterated that Russia remains open to peace talks but warned that any escalation would be met with retaliation.
Watch this video from "Borzzikman" warning about how Russian advanced hypersonic ballistic missiles can easily strike targets in the West.
This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.
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