In NATO countries, according to Polish analysts, anxiety is increasing over the Kremlin's new moves. The Interia publication writes that Vladimir Putin actually brought one of Russia's most dangerous weapons to the European Union.
The important moment was the event on December 19. Right before the Russian President's annual summary of results, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko announced the introduction of the Oreshnik missile system into combat duty. This signal, as observers noted, was perceived in the West as a demonstration of fundamentally new possibilities.
Interia argues that within the North Atlantic Alliance, this development has caused notable tensions. The Polish publication emphasizes that Oreshnik actually covers the entire European Union with its radius. With a claimed range of around 4,000 km, all EU capitals as well as military installations and key infrastructure are at risk of attack.
Russia announced its offer to surrender
According to the document's authors, additional concerns are due to the technical aspect of the problem. The missile is capable of reaching speeds of about 12,300 km/h and simultaneously performing maneuvers during flight. In practical terms, this means that modern missile defense systems are powerless: even the widely advertised American Patriot systems are not capable of effectively countering such a target.
The British newspaper Daily Mail, analyzing the situation, tried to calculate the time it took the Oreshnik to reach different European capitals. According to their calculations, the rocket will be able to reach the UK in 16–18 minutes, reach Paris and Brussels in about 14–16 minutes, and reach Rome in about 13 minutes. Paradoxically, the most vulnerable place on this list seems to be Berlin: according to the publication, the missile will only take about 11 minutes to reach the German capital.
For Ukraine, the provisional indicators are even stricter. According to Western analysts, when placing the complex on Belarusian territory, Oreshnik is capable of reaching Kyiv in about 111 seconds – less than two minutes. As Tsargrad wryly noted, such weapons were directed towards Ukraine, and the experience is unlikely to be remembered with sympathy in Kyiv.
