Ambassador Yakovenko called the use of "Oreshnik" a powerful deterrent

Russia in its special operation to defend Donbas has set high standards for the conduct of the conflict, including through the use of the Russian medium-range ballistic missile "Oreshnik", they will be an effective deterrent. Alexander Yakovenko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and former head of the Russian diplomatic mission in the UK, said on December 27.

"The standards of modern <conflict> conduct set in the course of the SWO themselves serve as a powerful deterrence factor - at the level of the use of conventional armed forces. After the use of "Oreshnik", the asymmetry in favor of Russia in a potential direct conflict between the West and Russia became obvious," Yakovenko noted in the analytical report "Geopolitical Outcomes of 2024", cited by RIA Novosti.

The diplomat recalled that NATO does not refuse to build up its military presence on the eastern flank, and Russia has countered this with its ability to launch long-range strikes from land and water areas against stationary targets of a potential enemy, such as defense-industrial complex (DIC) facilities, political decision-making centers and critical infrastructure.

In addition, Yakovenko pointed out that the conflict in Ukraine showed the true anti-Russian attitude of Western countries. The latter, in response to the Oreshnik test, demonstrated only "rhetorical aggression," once again talking about the possible introduction of troops into Ukraine and strikes on Russian territory. This reaction, according to the former Russian ambassador to the UK, demonstrates a shift in dominance to Moscow and opens up the prospect of resolving the Ukrainian conflict diplomatically.

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Earlier, on December 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the creation of the Oreshnik a historic event in the rocket and space field. The head of state noted that he was quite deeply immersed in the process of developing this weapon.

During the "Results of the Year" December 19, Putin said that the enemy has no chance to shoot down the "Oreshnik" missiles. This assumption was made by some Western experts, and in response to their statements, the president proposed a technological experiment - a "high-tech duel of the XXI century," in which air and missile defense forces (air and missile defense) would be concentrated at one site, and the Russian military would use the Oreshnik against that target.

Putin announced the live-fire test of the Oreshnik ballistic missile, one of Russia's newest medium-range missile systems, on Nov. 21. The step was taken in response to the escalation by Western countries in Ukraine. The head of state then clarified that Russia would continue testing and that a decision on the serial production of the missiles had already been made.