Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Kazakhstan on November 28, providing an update on Russia’s military developments, including its latest hypersonic missile system. The CSTO, a security organization led by Russia, comprises six member states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Russia.
Hypersonic Missiles and Russian Military Strategy
During his speech, Putin discussed Russia’s recent use of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which was tested on November 21, 2023, in a non-nuclear configuration in an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. He highlighted the missile's precision and noted that when used in a concentrated strike, multiple Oreshnik missiles could deliver a destructive impact similar to a nuclear weapon, although the missile does not carry a nuclear warhead.
Putin also indicated that the missile system’s production was ongoing, and Russia might continue to use it in future strikes. He outlined that the Russian military was identifying new strike targets in Ukraine, which could include military installations, defense industry sites, and decision-making centers in Kyiv.
Response to Western Support for Ukraine
Putin described Russia’s strikes as a response to Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied weapon systems, such as the ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles, which have been used to strike within Russian territory, including the Bryansk and Kursk regions. He framed Russia’s military actions as retaliation to Ukraine's increasing reliance on Western technology.
Regional Reactions
There was no immediate public response from Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev or other regional leaders to Putin’s remarks. Tokayev has previously stated that Russia is “militarily invincible” and emphasized the need for negotiations to resolve the conflict.
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