Vladimir Putin delivered an emergency address in which he said that in response to Ukraine's use of American and British long-range weapons, Russian troops "in combat conditions" tested a medium-range missile system called "Oreshnik," which had not been previously reported.
According to Putin, the Russian army launched a ballistic missile in "non-nuclear hypersonic equipment" as part of a combined strike on a military-industrial complex facility in Dnipro. Putin claims that "the tests were successful," and the strike's target "was achieved," naming the rocket factory "Yuzhmash." Meanwhile, as reported by the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration, the strike hit the building of a rehabilitation center for people with disabilities, with windows shattered and the boiler room destroyed; an industrial enterprise and nine garages were also damaged.
According to Putin, the launch of the new missile was a response to the attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on November 19 in the Bryansk and Kursk regions using American ATACMS missiles and British Storm Shadow. He stated that strikes with such missiles may continue. "When choosing, if necessary and as a retaliatory measure, a target for striking with systems like 'Oreshnik' on the territory of Ukraine, we will offer in advance to peaceful residents, as well as ask citizens of friendly states located there to leave dangerous zones," Putin said.
He also stated that Russian authorities may use weapons against countries that allow the use of their weapons against Russia. "We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow the use of their weapons against our facilities. And in the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond just as decisively and symmetrically."