**Putin Unveils Details of Russia's Hypersonic "Oreshnik" Missile**

Russian President Vladimir Putin has provided in-depth information on the "Oreshnik" missile, which Russia first deployed against a Ukrainian munitions factory in Dnipro this November. During his state visit to Kazakhstan, Putin described the missile as a high-precision, high-power weapon that reaches temperatures of over 7,000 degrees Fahrenheit upon impact.

In his address, Putin emphasized that the Oreshnik, despite its significant destructive power, is not equipped with a nuclear device, thereby avoiding environmental contamination. "The damage is substantial," he declared, noting that everything at the impact center is obliterated to its elemental components, with effects reaching several floors below ground level.

The UK Ministry of Defence identified the Oreshnik as possibly a variant of the Rubezh RS-26 ballistic missile. This missile is solid-fueled and road-mobile, making it versatile and potent. According to the ministry, the Oreshnik's payload during the Dnipro strike included six groups of six warheads, all traveling at hypersonic speeds.

The missile's estimated range, up to 5,800 km (around 3,600 miles), brings much of Europe and the UK within its potential target zone. Former Australian Army Maj. Gen. Mick Ryan commented that Russia's employment of such long-range capabilities conveys a clear message to the West about its defense and security policies. "Putin isn't only messaging Washington D.C. here," Ryan wrote. "This is a message to Europe about their support for Ukraine and Russia's broader strategic intentions."

As tensions escalate, the sophisticated capabilities of the Oreshnik missile underscore the shifting dynamics in global military power and geopolitical strategy.