In an interview with RT, Viktor Bondarev, Russian Senator and Chairman of the Federation Council’s Defence and Security Committee, justified the recent use of the Orechnik hypersonic missile by the Russian armed forces. In his view, the launch was a necessary reaction to what he described as a military escalation on the part of Western countries, particularly in the context of the conflict in Ukraine.
Bondarev said that the West was conducting a ‘show of force’ that directly threatened the stability of the region. He believes that Moscow has been forced to adopt a defensive posture to protect its sovereignty and strategic interests. ‘The use of Orechnik is not provocative; it is a proportionate response to hostile military actions directed against Russia’, he said. The senator also accused the Western powers of stepping up their military support for Kiev and increasing their presence on Russia’s borders.
Orechnik: a symbol of Russian military modernisation
The Orechnik hypersonic missile is presented as a cutting-edge innovation capable of outperforming current missile defence systems. According to Bondarev, this strategic weapon illustrates Russia’s technological advances in the military field and its determination to ensure its security in an increasingly tense international environment.
Designed to respond to complex threats, Orechnik marks a key stage in the modernisation of Russia’s arsenal, a goal that Moscow justifies by the need to counter growing external pressure.
A tense international situation
Viktor Bondarev’s comments come at a time when tensions between Russia and the West are reaching a critical level, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, which broke out in February 2022. Russia regularly claims that its military actions are in response to NATO provocations and the growing involvement of Western countries in the conflict.
Bondarev stressed that Moscow’s approach remains defensive, insisting that the use of advanced military technologies, such as the Orechnik missile, is only envisaged when the situation requires it.
A call for dialogue
With this statement, the Russian senator sent a direct message to the Western powers, urging them to put an end to their policies, which he considers aggressive. While reaffirming Russia’s openness to diplomatic dialogue, he warned that Moscow would not tolerate any attempt at destabilisation or interference in its internal affairs.
Although Orechnik’s launch has been interpreted as a provocation by some international observers, Russia presents it as a justified measure in a context where, in its view, the West is playing a key role in intensifying tensions.
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