Russian official urges Putin for missile retaliation on Kyiv
The chairman of the Russian State Duma Defense Committee, Andrei Kartapolov, called on Vladimir Putin to launch a retaliatory attack on Ukraine after the largest drone raid on Moscow since the beginning of the war, reports the United24 Media portal, citing The Moscow Times. "They must be crushed," said the politician.
Kartapolov urged Putin to conduct a retaliatory strike on Ukraine, believing the drone attack on Moscow was a "propaganda act" by Kyiv. He suggested using the Oreshnik missile system. "The decision is up to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, but I think launching 'Oreshnik'—and not just one—wouldn't hurt" the Russian politician stated.
Drone attack on Moscow
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian forces launched 337 drones towards Russia during the night of March 10 to 11, of which 91 were shot down over the Moscow region.
In response to the Ukrainian strike, Kartapolov suggested that the drone attack had no military objective and only coincided with the USA-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia. "They want to show off, prove they can do something. That's why they must be extinguished, destroyed, and put in their place—nothing more" he stated. The politician called for a retaliatory strike on Ukraine and mentioned a specific system he wants to use for the attack, referring to the Oreshnik.
Oreshnik system
Back in December 2024, Ukrainians reported finding parts in the discovered fragments of Oreshnik debris (from an attack conducted in November) with numbers indicating that the missile contained elements manufactured back in April 2017. This information raises doubts about Russian assurances regarding the modernity of the technology used in this weapon.
Detailed technical data about the Oreshnik missiles is still lacking. Assuming this technology is based on the RS-26 system, the missile's initial launch mass may range from 88,000 to 110,000 lbs. This weapon can cover distances up to 3,700 miles. Standard equipment likely includes four warheads, each with a yield of about 0.3 megatons.
