Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of targeting “decision-making centers” in Kyiv in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory using Western-made long-range missiles. He confirmed the continued testing of the Oreshnik missile in combat, describing its destructive power, which could turn anything in its strike zone into dust. Putin claimed that a mass launch of the Oreshnik could produce a force comparable to nuclear weapons. In retaliation for Kyiv’s missile strikes, Russia launched an extensive air attack on Ukraine, hitting military and defence industry targets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia for using cluster munitions on civilian infrastructure, calling it a “despicable escalation” of terrorist tactics. Zelensky also urged for more Western air defence systems as Russia is expected to intensify its attacks during the winter months. n18oc_crux
