Russia could strike Ukraine with "Oreshnik" this weekend - FT
Russia is considering a possible strike with the "Oreshnik" missile this weekend.
This was stated by a representative of the US National Security Council to the Financial Times, Censor.NET reports.
"As Putin has said publicly, Russia intends to launch another experimental Oreshnik missile at Ukraine, and it is possible that Russia could do so in the coming days," he said
At the same time, the official noted that the Russian dictator wanted to intimidate Ukraine and its partners with this weapon, but the Oreshnik was "not a game-changer on the battlefield".
"But the reality is that Russia likely possesses only a handful of these experimental missiles, and this weapon carries a smaller warhead than other missiles that Russia has regularly launched at Ukraine," he added.
Earlier, the US Embassy announced the "growing threat" of Russian air attacks on Ukraine.
On 11 December 2024, the Pentagon said it did not rule out the possibility that Russia could strike Ukraine with an "Oreshnik" medium-range ballistic missile in the coming days.
Russia's "Oreshnik" strike on Ukraine
On 21 November, according to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia used an intercontinental ballistic missile during a missile attack on the city of Dnipro. The media reported that it could have been a "Rubezh" missile, which is a potential nuclear warhead.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said in an address on 21 November that during the morning attack on Dnipro, Russians allegedly used a new medium-range "Oreshnik" missile.
On 22 November, the Defence Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate said that on 21 November, Russia had struck at Ukrainian territory using a ballistic missile, allegedly from the "Kedr" missile system.
Later, the SSU showed journalists the remains of a Russian missile called "Oreshnik", which hit the city of Dnipro on Thursday.
Putin also threatened to use the Oreshnik missile against Kyiv.
