We will Keep Testing new Oreshnik Hypersonic Missile in Combat: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia would keep testing its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile in combat and had a stock ready for use, news organisations have reported.

On Thursday, Russia had hit the Ukrainian city of Dnipro with a Oreshnik hypersonic missile, triggering explosions that went on for three hours, according to media reports. The Ukrainian officials had described that the missile bore the characteristics of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Russia used the missile after Ukraine hit deep into Russian territory with a U.S.-made long-range missile upon U.S. President Joe Biden giving a go ahead for its use.

Hours after the strike, Putin said that the weapon travelled at a speed of 2.5-3km per second, which is 10 times the speed of sound, adding that "there are currently no ways of counteracting this weapon".

"We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia," news organisations quoted Putin as saying in a televised statement.