Putin: "New Missiles Can Bomb Kyiv's 'Decision-Making Base'"

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the new hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile 'Oreshnik' could be used to bomb the 'decision-making base' in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.

AFP Yonhap News

According to TASS and other sources on the 28th (local time), President Putin said at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Collective Security Council (CSC) meeting held in Astana, Kazakhstan, "We will respond to Ukraine's attacks on Russian territory with Western long-range missiles." He explained, "The Ministry of Defense and the General Staff are currently selecting targets to strike," adding, "These could be military facilities, defense industry facilities, or the decision-making base in Kyiv." Although he did not specify details, it appears he had in mind presidential office, Ministry of Defense, or military command facilities.

So far, key government facilities in Kyiv have not suffered serious damage thanks to air defense systems. However, the Russian side claims that Ukraine's air defenses cannot intercept the new Oreshnik missile. He emphasized, "Over the past two days, we have conducted comprehensive attacks on Ukraine using 100 various types of systems, missiles, and 466 drones," and "There will definitely be a response to attacks on Russian territory."

At a press conference concluding his state visit to Kazakhstan that day, President Putin responded to a question about whether the decision-making base in Kyiv could be attacked with weapons like the Oreshnik by saying, "Everything is possible." He stated, "We must keep in mind that Ukraine continues to attempt attacks on our important facilities such as Moscow and Saint Petersburg." Furthermore, regarding the power of the Oreshnik, he emphasized, "Everything in the center turns to ashes. It strikes facilities located 3 to 4 floors underground, as well as those even deeper," adding, "Its striking power is tremendous."

Earlier, after Ukraine struck the Russian mainland with ATACMS missiles supported by the United States and British Storm Shadow (French name: SCALP) missiles, Russia responded on the 21st by launching this new missile. At that time, President Putin introduced the Oreshnik, saying it reaches its target at Mach 10 speed, rendering Western missile defenses useless.

On the same day, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it destroyed five ATACMS launchers located in Sumy, Kursk Oblast, near the western border of Russia, using Iskander ballistic missiles. Specifically, near Tokari village, two multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) and one mobile loading vehicle were destroyed, and in Mali Bobrik village, three High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) were eliminated. The Ministry of Defense added that up to 30 personnel related to the launchers were killed in the airstrike.

At the CSTO meeting, President Putin referred to the Iskander missile as Russia's long-range missile counterpart to the American ATACMS. He also mentioned that Russia's air-launched missile, the X-101, corresponds to the British Storm Shadow, French SCALP, and German Taurus, adding that Russian missiles have similar power to Western missiles but longer range.