Russia is ramping up production of hypersonic missiles capable od striking Europe amid rising tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to reports.
Fears of World War Three breaking out intensified further over the weekend after the US bombed Iran in an attempt to thwart its nuclear weapon production.
Supreme leader Ali Khamenei responded with an attack on the States’ Al Udeid airbase in Qatar on Monday—but American President Donald Trump revealed he’d brokered a ceasefire between both Israel and the Iranian regime come Tuesday.
Though the agreement appears to be holding, at least for now, leaders across the world, like Vladimir Putin, are preparing for the worst case scenario should all-out war break out.
During a press conference, the Russian President shared his plans of producing more Oreshnik hypersonic missiles. The weapons reportedly have an intermediate range and have been used during Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine.
Putin has emphasised the missile – also known as the Hazel tree – has “proven itself very well in combat conditions” and that “serial production of the latest Oreshnik medium-range missile system [is] under way.”
According to The Mirror, it was used when Russia attacked Ukraine on November 21, 2024. During that particular operation, the weapon was aimed at a defence building in Dnipro, allegedly causing ‘significant destruction’.
Oreshnik missiles, which are expected to be ready for use in the latter half of this year, are claimed to be able to hit targets as far as 3,415 miles away, meaning they would also be able to reach targets in Europe and even western US.
Putin also asserted the weapons are “impossible to intercept” and have the potential to damage nuclear weapons. Yet military analysts have raised doubts over this claim.
Meanwhile, the UK is set to buy a fleet of new fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons, in what Downing Street has called the “biggest strengthening” of Britain’s posture “in a generation”.
Britain will buy 12 F35A jets and join Nato’s airborne nuclear mission in the move, which was confirmed while Sir Keir Starmer is at the alliance’s summit in The Hague.
The jets, a variant of the F35Bs the UK already uses, can carry conventional weapons, but can also be equipped with nuclear bombs.
The Prime Minister has said that the UK “can no longer take peace for granted” and that the move shows ministers are “investing in our national security”.