During a meeting with top Ministry of military officials and military industry executives in the Kremlin on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile system.

Oreshnik is Russia's newest hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), which Putin unveiled Thursday. Russia targeted the Yuzhmash complex in Dnipro, Ukraine, which manufactures missile technology, with a successful Oreshnik strike.

Russia already possesses a stockpile of Oreshnik missile systems and has decided to mass produce them, Putin divulged.

The president explained that Russia would "continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia, especially since we already have a stockpile of such systems ready for use."

The successes and rapid growth of the Oreshnik system inspire pride and appreciation, and advancements in the military industry, are critical to the security of the nation, Putin noted. 

"The weapons system that was tested yesterday is yet another reliable guarantor of Russia's territorial integrity and sovereignty," according to the president. "The creators of the Oreshnik missile system - those who designed and organized the production of this new complex, will certainly be nominated for state awards."

According to Putin, Oreshnik is the result of current Russian scientists' work rather than a modification of an earlier system.

The destructive capability of the Oreshnik system, when utilized in a huge strike on enemy objectives, is similar to that of a strategic nuclear weapon, according to Putin, who emphasizes that no viable defenses to the system exist.

He stated that with the great power of this missile, "it will be put into service with the Strategic Missile Forces specifically."

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"In addition to the Oreshnik system, several systems of this kind are currently in development for further testing in Russia today," Putin announced. "Based on the results of testing, these weapons will also go into production. That is, we are developing a whole lineup of medium and shorter-range systems."

 Russia will respond in mirror-like fashion if Ukraine escalates: Putin

In a Thursday address, Putin emphasized that the war in Ukraine "previously provoked by the West, has acquired elements of a global nature."

Putin explained that in the case where systems such as Oreshnik are used in Ukraine, "we will offer civilians in advance, as well as ask citizens of friendly states located there to leave dangerous zones. We will do this for humanitarian reasons — openly, publicly, without fear of opposition from the enemy."

The Russian President explained the "events that are taking place today in the NWO zone, namely after the use of Western-made long-range weapons on our territory," as he addressed  the country's military, citizens, and "those who continue to harbor illusions about the possibility of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia."

Russia will respond strongly and in a mirror-like fashion if Ukraine's aggressive escalation continues, Putin vowed. He warned the nations that are "hatching plans to use their military contingents against Russia" to also deeply consider his threat. 

He expressed that the United States made a mistake when it destroyed the pact on the elimination of intermediate- and shorter-range missiles (INF treaty) in 2019, under what he called "a far-fetched pretext," accusing of leading the world toward global conflict and holding it responsible for the destruction of the international security system.

He detailed how Russian troops are "successfully advancing along the entire line of the battle contact. All tasks that we set for ourselves will be accomplished."

Putin emphasized Russia's readiness for peaceful resolutions but warned that any escalation would be met with a decisive response. "There will always be an answer," he declared, adding that Russia reserves the right to target military facilities of countries using weapons against it.

"We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities. We will respond decisively and proportionally in the event of an escalation of aggressive actions," Putin said. 

"We have always preferred and are now ready to resolve all disputed issues by peaceful means. But we are also ready for any development of events. If anyone else doubts this, they really should not. There will always be an answer," he warned.