On November 21, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russian forces successfully struck a defense industry plant in Dnipro, Ukraine, using a new medium-range missile system known as 'Oreshnik.' In a televised address, Putin characterized the strike as a successful test, asserting that the missile was equipped with non-nuclear hypersonic capabilities.
Putin stated that the missile tests were conducted in response to what he termed aggressive actions by NATO countries towards Russia. He indicated that future targets for missile tests would be determined based on perceived threats to Russian security, suggesting that Russia reserves the right to use its weapons against military targets in nations that allow attacks on Russian assets.
Additionally, Putin noted that Russia would advise civilians and citizens of friendly countries in danger zones to evacuate before future strikes. He claimed that modern air defense systems are unable to intercept the 'Oreshnik' missiles, which purportedly travel at speeds of 10 Mach or 2.5-3 kilometers per second.
Reports from U.S. officials indicated that the strike was executed with an experimental medium-range ballistic missile rather than an intercontinental ballistic missile, suggesting that Russia might be attempting to intimidate Ukraine and its allies. The U.S. government has been informing Ukraine and its allies about the potential use of such weaponry by Russia.
In response to the missile strike, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is engaging with international partners and invoking mechanisms within the United Nations and NATO to address the use of this new type of weapon against Ukraine. Spokesperson Georgiy Tikhiy emphasized the need for the international community to act promptly against Russia's actions, urging allies to provide systems capable of intercepting such missiles.