ASTANA: Decision-making centers in Ukraine could be targeted in strikes with Russia’s newest Oreshnik hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile system, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. ‘The Defense Ministry and the General Staff of the Russian Army are currently selecting targets to strike on the territory of Ukraine,’ Putin said speaking at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Summit in Astana. ‘These targets may include military facilities, defense industry enterprises or decision-making centers in Kiev,’ the Russian president stated, according to TASS.

According to Syrian Arab News Agency, Putin also mentioned that the serial production of the Oreshnik missile system has already been launched. He emphasized that the ultimate decision on the means of destruction will depend on the nature of the targets and the threats posed to the Russian Federation. The Russian president further stressed that Moscow would respond to any strikes on Russian soil with Western-made long-r
ange missiles, potentially continuing Oreshnik tests in combat conditions, as previously conducted on November 21.

Putin highlighted that on November 21, the United States and its NATO allies granted Kiev permission to use long-range high-precision weapons, resulting in US-and UK-made missiles attacking Russian military sites in the Kursk and Bryansk regions. In retaliation, Russia test-launched the Oreshnik missiles with conventional warheads against Ukraine’s major Yuzhmash defense enterprise in Dnepr.

The Russian leader warned that the West’s provocative actions could lead to serious consequences if the Ukraine conflict escalates further.