Russia speaks out about Putin challenging the West to a missile "duel"

(Dan Tri) - The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal to "fight head-to-head" with the West was a response to claims about the Oreshnik missile's vulnerabilities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo: Reuters).

"That's the answer to a question. A question from Western experts that this weapons system has flaws," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Tass news agency (Russia).

Mr. Peskov said that President Putin meant that the Oreshnik missile is superior to all existing weapons, but this missile is not a nuclear weapon.

"This is really an absolute revolution in weapons technology. This is exactly what the president is talking about," the Kremlin spokesman declared.

Earlier, at a press conference on December 20, President Putin challenged the West to test its advanced air defense systems against Russia's new Oreshnik hypersonic missile in a "technological duel". According to the Russian leader, this missile system is currently impossible to shoot down.

"If they believe that Oreshnik can be shot down, propose an experiment. Choose a target in Kiev, concentrate all air defense and missile defense systems, and we will fire an Oreshnik. Let's see the results. We are ready for such an experiment, do they dare?", Mr. Putin said.

Mr Putin said he personally made the decision on the production of the Oreshnik missile.

Late last month, Russia attacked a Ukrainian defense industrial complex in Dnipro in retaliation for Kiev's deep incursion into Russian territory with long-range weapons supplied by the West.

Mr. Putin said that Oreshnik is a medium-range hypersonic missile with a speed 10 times faster than sound, making it impossible to intercept. According to him, if used in large numbers, Oreshnik has the destructive power equivalent to nuclear weapons.

According to the Russian leader, Oreshnik is capable of carrying multiple warheads, including conventional and nuclear warheads.

The missile can target well-protected structures deep underground, making it effective against hardened targets such as bunkers.

Mr. Putin said that the West has established two large air defense zones near the Russian border, one in Romania and one in Poland, but these air defense systems cannot intercept the Oreshnik.

Although not a weapon of mass destruction, Oreshnik still has the potential to cause massive destruction without using nuclear power.

Russia's use of this experimental missile system against Ukraine was almost certainly intended to send a strategic message after Ukraine used Western missiles to attack Russian territory.

Chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council (Upper House) Valentina Matviyenko stressed that the West has certainly received the message from the Oreshnik launch and President Putin's statements.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/nga-len-tieng-viec-ong-putin-thach-phuong-tay-dau-tay-doi-ten-lua-20241222135327233.htm