Russia’s hypersonic missile strike puts NATO on high alert

NATO on high alert: Putin unleashes ‘Oreshnik’ in deadly Ukraine strike.

NATO calls emergency talks after Russia’s hypersonic missile strike in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has unveiled his latest weapon, the Oreshnik missile – nicknamed the ‘hazelnut‘ – and it’s anything but small. Described as an experimental hypersonic ballistic missile, it struck Ukraine’s Dnipro on Thursday, November 21, in a chilling display of power. With a speed of Mach 11 and the capacity to unleash devastation akin to a nuclear strike, the missile has sent shockwaves through Europe.

Speaking to his military officials on Friday, November 22, Putin boasted: “No one in the world has such weapons…” Grinning smugly, he added, “We have this system now. And this is important.” NATO leaders, however, are not amused.

NATO scrambles for crisis talks

In response to the November 21 attack, NATO and Ukraine have called emergency talks for Tuesday, November 26. Leaders will meet to address what Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the war’s “decisive phase.” Ukraine’s parliament even cancelled its own Friday session amid fears of further missile strikes, with lawmakers evacuating government buildings.

Deadly escalation in Dnipro

The Oreshnik missile struck a military facility at the Pivdenmash plant in Dnipro, a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid. Miraculously, no fatalities were reported, but residents turned to dark humour online, joking about the missile’s name ‘Oreshnik’, which roughly translates to hazel-nut tree in English.

Dnipro officials have cordoned off the blast zone, and security is tighter than ever. Ukrainian intelligence revealed that the missile was fired from Russia’s Kapustin Yar missile range, flying 15 minutes before impact.

Putin’s ‘non-nuclear‘ nuke

Though not technically a nuclear weapon, the Oreshnik’s devastating power leaves little to the imagination. Armed with six non-nuclear warheads that splinter into submunitions, it’s designed to wreak havoc on a massive scale. Russia’s top missile man, General Sergei Karakayev, ominously claimed, that ‘even with conventional warheads, the effect rivals that of nuclear strikes.’

Putin chillingly confirmed that production of the Oreshnik is already underway, with plans for more ‘combat testing.‘ He also hinted that Russia’s retaliatory actions will only escalate, blaming Western nations for supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles.

Sumy tragedy: civilians caught in the crossfire

While Dnipro reeled from Thursday’s attack, Russia unleashed Iranian-made Shahed drones on the residential district of Sumy overnight. Stuffed with shrapnel, the drones killed two people and injured 13. Regional head Volodymyr Artiukh grimly remarked, “These weapons are used to destroy people, not objects.”

Ukraine fights back with smarts and drones.

Undeterred, Ukraine is striking back. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office remains operational despite increased security measures. The country’s rapidly growing drone industry, partially funded by allies like Denmark, is playing a pivotal role in the war, even hitting deep inside Russia.

Foreign leaders are rallying behind Ukraine. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský denounced the Dnipro strike as an “escalatory step,” urging more air defence support. Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, however, sided with Moscow’s rhetoric, speculating that American personnel might be directly involved in Ukraine’s missile operations.

‘Hazelnuts‘ and hard realities

Putin’s missile stunt has left Europe on edge, but NATO leaders are gearing up to respond. As Ukraine braces for further attacks, the world watches with bated breath.

Will Russia’s escalation push the conflict to breaking point?

Stay tuned as more updates come in.

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