**Russia Plans Mass Production of Oreshnik Missile**
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on December 16 that his country plans to start mass producing the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile. This was mentioned at a defense ministry board meeting.
The Oreshnik is an IRBM capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Russia first tested the experimental version of this missile in an attack against Dnipro on November 21, claiming it was a response to Ukraine’s use of U.S. and British long-range missiles.
**Production Timeline Unclear**
However, a former Russian defense engineer told The Moscow Times that mass production would take years due to bureaucratic and technological difficulties in Russia. Putin said large-scale Oreshnik production is a goal for the “near future.”
**Concerns Over Oreshnik Capabilities**
Putin has boasted that the missile travels at 10 times the speed of sound. He also claimed it cannot be intercepted by air defense systems, a claim refuted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
**Escalating Rhetoric and Threats**
The Kremlin has used possession of Oreshnik missiles in escalating anti-Western rhetoric and threats against Ukraine. A week after the strike on Dnipro, Putin threatened to target “decision-making centers in Kyiv” with Oreshnik strikes.
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