Putin announces continued combat testing of new hypersonic missile against Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to continue testing the new Oreshnik hypersonic missile in combat. This follows its first use against Ukraine, which he described as a successful test. Putin stated that Russia has a stock of these missiles ready for deployment. Ukraine is developing air defense systems to counter the Oreshnik missile, which can reach speeds over 8,000 mph. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russia's missile use an escalation and emphasized the need for vigilance against potential threats. The Kremlin indicated that the missile serves as a warning to the West regarding support for Ukraine. Putin claimed the Oreshnik's capabilities make it difficult to intercept, asserting that no current defense systems can counter it effectively.