Putin Threatens Kyiv Decision-Making Centres with New Hypersonic Missile

To date, Russia has avoided striking critical Ukrainian government buildings such as ministries, parliament, or the presidential office.

Moscow/Kyiv/Astana: Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia may deploy its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile to target “decision-making centres” in Kyiv, in retaliation for Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied missiles against Russian territory.

Putin made the comments on Thursday during a summit with leaders of a security alliance of former Soviet states in Kazakhstan. He claimed the Oreshnik missile, recently tested in combat, is impervious to interception, a statement met with skepticism by Western experts.

Potential Strikes on Kyiv

“Of course, we will respond to the ongoing strikes on Russian territory with long-range Western-made missiles,” Putin said. “This may include continuing to test the Oreshnik in combat conditions… Targets could include military facilities, defence and industrial enterprises, or decision-making centres in Kyiv,” he added.

To date, Russia has avoided striking critical Ukrainian government buildings such as ministries, parliament, or the presidential office. Kyiv remains well-fortified with air defence systems, but the Oreshnik’s purported capabilities could challenge these defences.

Escalation of Missile Warfare

Tensions between Moscow and Kyiv have escalated sharply following Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied ATACMS ballistic missiles and British Storm Shadow cruise missiles to strike deep into Russian territory, including the Kursk region. Russia’s retaliation included the deployment of the Oreshnik missile on Nov. 21, targeting the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

Putin reiterated his stance that the use of Western-made missiles signifies the “direct involvement” of NATO countries in the conflict. He also claimed that Russia’s production of advanced missile systems outpaces NATO’s by a factor of 10, promising further expansion of production capabilities.

Zelenskiy’s Response

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Putin of using the Oreshnik missile to prolong the conflict and disrupt peace efforts, particularly those expected under U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

“Putin doesn’t seek an end to this war. He wants to escalate the situation to sabotage any efforts to end it,” Zelenskiy said in his nightly address.

Zelenskiy also condemned Russia’s recent massive missile attacks on Ukraine, which included the use of cluster munitions, leaving over 1 million people without power.

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Nuclear Concerns and Western Reactions

Although Putin compared the Oreshnik to a nuclear weapon in destructive power, he stressed it does not carry a nuclear warhead. However, Western analysts believe the missile could be equipped with a nuclear payload if needed.

Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence sources have downplayed the risk of nuclear escalation, stating that allowing Ukraine to strike deeper into Russia has not increased the likelihood of a nuclear attack.

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Growing International Implications

As missile exchanges intensify, the war’s global ramifications continue to unfold. Putin’s remarks reflect a potential shift in strategy, with Russia positioning its advanced weapons as both a military tool and a geopolitical signal to the West.

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