Putin confirms Russia will continue combat testing of new hypersonic missile
President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will continue testing its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile in combat. This follows its first use in Ukraine, which Putin described as a successful test. He stated that Russia has a stock of these missiles ready for deployment. The Oreshnik missile can carry multiple warheads and has a range that allows it to strike targets across Europe and the western United States. Ukraine reported that the missile reached speeds over 13,000 kph and took about 15 minutes to hit its target. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the missile's use as a severe escalation in the conflict. He indicated that Ukraine is developing new air defense systems to address the increased threat posed by such weapons.