Putin proposed a duel to the West with an “Oreshnik” missile strike on a target in Kyiv

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a “high-tech duel” to the West using the ballistic hypersonic missile “Oreshnik”.

He made this statement during a live Q&A session combined with his annual press conference.

Addressing the president, a journalist noted that in the West, the “Oreshnik” is still described as a modification of old Soviet weaponry that air defense systems can “shoot down even during launch.”

“If those Western experts you mentioned believe this, let them propose—along with those in the West and the U.S. who pay for their analysis—a kind of technological experiment. Let’s call it a 21st-century high-tech duel,” said Putin.

He suggested identifying a target in Kyiv, where all air and missile defense forces would be concentrated.

“We will strike that target with the ‘Oreshnik’ and see what happens. We are ready for such an experiment. Is the other side ready?” asked the president.

Putin also responded to a question about why the hypersonic ballistic missile was named “Oreshnik.”

“Honestly? I don’t know,” said Putin.

The president explained that the “Oreshnik” is a new, modern medium- and short-range weapon developed based on previous “Russian-era” designs, in coordination with the Ministry of Defense.

“In the end, this decision came to me as well, and I participated in the final decisions on whether to produce it, in what quantity, when, and how,” he added.

Putin noted the existence of several air defense systems, such as the Patriot missile system, which he compared to the Russian S-300, and the more advanced THAAD system, similar to the S-400.

“I don’t know if they [THAAD] are in Ukraine or not. I don’t think so. If the Americans decide to deploy them—let them. <…> We’ll ask our guys in Ukraine to tell us what modern, valuable solutions they have there,” said Putin.

He added that he uses the term “our guys” without irony, as Russia has “people to talk to in Ukraine.”

“There are also other means of attack, like missile defense systems, which have been much discussed. We once begged the Americans not to deploy these systems so we wouldn’t have to create countermeasures,” Putin said.

Nevertheless, he noted that missile defense sites with 24 anti-missile systems each were established in Romania and Poland, leading Russia to develop the Avangard missile system and other systems to overcome missile defense.

“From the perspective of American taxpayers, the whole thing is costly and provides little for the security of their country,” he added.

According to the president, the range of Western missile defense systems in Romania is 300 km, with altitudes from 80 to 250 km, while in Poland, the range is 1000 km and the altitude 500 km.

“But our ‘Oreshnik’ is a medium-range weapon. And medium-range means 1000 km, 1500 km, 3000 km, and beyond—up to 5500 km. That’s its range,” said Putin.

If the “Oreshnik” were deployed 2000 km from Poland, Western missile defense systems “wouldn’t be able to reach it,” explained the president.

“Yes, on the first, boost stage, vulnerability is said to be high. But, first of all, nothing will reach it—even if these sites aren’t protected, which, of course, they are. Nothing gets there. There are no systems capable of reaching it. First. And second, to reach such a distance requires time. But after just a few seconds, our missile’s warheads begin to separate—and that’s it, the train has left the station,” he said.

The president expressed confidence that the West has “no chance” of intercepting these missiles.