A Russian official has issued a stark warning to NATO, highlighting the vulnerability of western capitals to Moscow’s advanced hypersonic weaponry. Aleksey Aleksandrovich Zhuravlyov emphasized the capacity of these new armaments to strike key targets in Western cities unabated, following Russia’s deployment of the Oreshnik missile in Ukraine.

Zhuravlyov, in response to a report in the German newspaper Berliner Zeitung on Russian actions in the Lviv region titled ‘Oreshnik deployment shocks Ukraine and Europe’, expressed satisfaction that the strike had served as a clear message to the EU and NATO. The missile attack on Lviv on January 8, which involved the use of the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile, caused significant concern in political and expert circles across Europe. The Oreshnik missiles can travel at hypersonic speeds exceeding Mach 10, making interception challenging, and can carry nuclear warheads.

With a range of around 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers), the missiles have the potential to reach most European capitals, NATO bases, and critical infrastructure, as highlighted in the German publication. Zhuravlyov emphasized that Moscow’s demonstration of these new hypersonic weapons proves the defenselessness of Western capitals and alliance military bases against Russian technological advancements.

Zhuravlyov, a member of Russia’s Duma parliament, has previously advocated for aggressive actions, such as urging Putin to use torpedoes against US Coast Guard vessels following the US seizure of Russian tankers. He condemned the seizure as an act of piracy by the American navy, calling for retaliatory measures.

For the latest news updates, consider selecting Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News.