Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning that government buildings in Kyiv could be the next target of Russian attacks, using a new hypersonic missile known as Oreshnik. This comes after an overnight missile and drone assault by Russia on Ukraine's key energy infrastructure.
Although Kyiv is heavily protected by air defenses and has not been hit by Russian attacks on 'decision-making centers' yet, Putin claims that the Oreshnik missile is capable of evading interception. The missile was recently fired at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, hitting a weapons production plant.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalated further with retaliatory strikes involving long-range missiles. Russia accuses Ukraine of using U.S.-made ATACMS missiles to target Russian military facilities, prompting Russia to respond with similar strikes.
The Oreshnik missile, based on the Rubezh intermediate-range ballistic missile, has a flight range that can reach most of Europe and even the West Coast of the United States. It can be equipped with either a non-nuclear or nuclear warhead and is designed to travel at hypersonic speeds, making interception nearly impossible.
Putin boasts of Russia's advanced missile production capabilities, claiming superiority over NATO. He plans to increase production further, indicating that the conflict, which has already lasted over 1,000 days, shows no signs of abating.
The recent aerial drone and missile attack by Russia on Ukraine's energy infrastructure left over a million households without power in various regions. This attack, the second in less than two weeks, has raised concerns about Russia's intentions to disrupt Ukraine's energy supply ahead of winter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as a 'vile escalation,' accusing Russia of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure. He called on Western countries to expedite the delivery of promised air defense weaponry to Ukraine.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, with both sides engaging in retaliatory strikes and threats. The international community closely watches the situation, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
