During an economic forum in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to counter rumors regarding the failure of the “Oreshnik” missile system in occupied Donetsk, asserting that its recent deployment was part of planned tests. This statement comes as Ukrainian drones reportedly targeted the event.
Putin praised Russian weaponry and specifically referenced the “Oreshnik,” claiming that all strikes conducted with this missile system in Ukraine were merely test runs. He stated, “This is not combat use. We have not had any actual combat deployment of the ‘Oreshnik’ on Ukrainian territory in the full sense of the word.”
Regarding the missile that fell in occupied Donetsk, Putin fabricated a narrative suggesting that this was a deliberate action to observe the results of the strike. He explained, “This pertains to the DPR area within the perimeter of the main fortified area. Our drones later flew into that shed that was hit and simply observed how the blocks were arranged, counting to the millimeter where everything fell. This is important for us to make future decisions regarding the full-scale use of the ‘Oreshnik’ for its intended purposes.”
Contextually, on the night of May 24, Russia conducted a large-scale combined strike on Ukrainian territory, deploying 90 missiles and 600 drones of various types, including the “Oreshnik.” Reports later indicated that one of these missiles had indeed fallen in occupied Donetsk, a fact that the Russian authorities did not address until Putin’s acknowledgment.
In addition to his comments about the missile system, Putin asserted that Russia possesses an air defense system that he claimed Ukraine lacks. Notably, just days prior, on June 3, Ukrainian forces had launched drone attacks targeting St. Petersburg.
Putin also introduced his own version of a “peace formula” with Ukraine, expressing his willingness to negotiate but only on the basis of a prior meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska.
In a recent address, Putin attempted to clarify misconceptions about the deployment of the 'Oreshnik' missile system, claiming it was part of a testing strategy. His comments come amid ongoing military tensions and drone attacks targeting Russian territory.