On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin challenged Western assertions about the Oreshnik missile’s vulnerability, proposing a direct test to determine its performance against advanced air and missile defence systems in Kyiv, Ukraine.
During the “Year in Review with Vladimir Putin” program on Channel One, a Russian state-owned television network, President Vladimir Putin proposed a “technological duel” to highlight the missile’s capabilities.
When asked about the West claims that the “Oreshnik” missile is a modified version of an old Soviet weapon and could be intercepted by air defence systems during its launch phase, President Vladimir Putin replied, “This is a modern, very new weapon. Everything that is done in any sphere of activity is based on some previous developments, on previous achievements, and then people I repeat: this is a medium- and shorter-range weapon.”
He also stated, “Let them (West) identify some target for destruction, say, in Kyiv, concentrate all their air defence and missile defence forces there, and we will strike there with the Oreshnik, and see what happens. We are ready for such an experiment. Is the other side ready? In any case, we do not rule it out. I mean that all their missile defence and air defence systems are still in operation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted his confidence in the country’s military advancements and emphasized his interest in the outcome for both Russia and the United States following a “technological duel.”
Putin further added, “It will be interesting for us. What I told you is what engineers, scientists, and military specialists tell me. At the level of political leadership in the States, they also tell me something. Let’s conduct such an experiment, such a technological duel and see what happens. It’s interesting. I think it will be useful for both us and the American side.”