Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of mass production for the Oresnik hypersonic missile.
The decision announced friday, comes just a day after the missile was reportedly used for the first time in an attack on Ukraine’s Dnipro region.
Putin made the announcement during a televised meeting with top military officials, according to Digi24.
He praised the missile’s extraordinary capabilities and described its deployment as a demonstration of Russia’s advanced military technology.
According to the Ukrainian military, the Oresnik missile, launched from the Kedr military complex in the Astrakhan region, struck a military target in Dnipro after traveling for approximately 15 minutes.
In its final trajectory, it reached speeds exceeding Mach 11, or 11 times the speed of sound.
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Russia claims the strike targeted a facility linked to Yuzhmash, Ukraine’s rocket and space technology plant.
Moscow framed the attack as a response to Ukraine’s recent use of Western-supplied missiles, including American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow systems.
These weapons, authorized by the U.S. and the U.K., have been used to strike military installations deep inside Russian territory.
The Kremlin has argued that Ukraine cannot carry out these advanced operations without direct support from Western countries.
Russian officials allege that satellite data and precise targeting provided by the U.S. and U.K. constitute active involvement in the conflict.
The Oresnik missile represents Russia’s increasing focus on hypersonic weaponry, a technology capable of evading most modern defense systems.
The announcement to begin mass production signals Moscow’s intent to bolster its missile arsenal amidst escalating tensions.
The use of advanced weaponry on both sides has further complicated an already intense war. While Ukraine continues to push back against Russian forces with Western military support, Russia’s move to deploy and mass-produce hypersonic missiles adds another layer of unpredictability to the conflict
