Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Russia is increasing production of its medium-range hypersonic missile "Oreshnik", which it first fired against Ukraine in November last year, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
"Serial production of the latest medium-range missile system is underway," Putin told graduating military cadets.
The system has "proved itself very well in combat conditions," the Russian president added - comments broadcast live on Russian television.
Russia first used the "Oreshnik" against Ukraine on November 21 last year, when Putin said the missile was fired at a defense plant in the city of Dnieper, Reuters recalls. He pointed out, that he authorized the strike in direct response to Ukraine's first use of U.S.-made ballistic missiles and British-made cruise missiles to strike Russian territory after Western countries gave permission for it.
Putin subsequently threatened further strikes, including against "decision-making centers" in Kiev, if Ukraine continued to attack Russia with long-range Western weapons.
The medium-range missiles have a range of up to 5,500 kilometers, which would allow them to be used by Russia to strike anywhere in Europe or the western United States, Reuters reports.