Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the presence of the Oreshnik missile system reduces the need to use nuclear weapons. He reported this at a meeting of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, noting that Russia is not tightening but improving its nuclear doctrine. According to him, the priority is the development of high-precision weapons, such as the Oreshnik, capable of effectively performing strategic tasks without the use of nuclear warheads.

The Oreshnik missile system is the latest development of the Russian defense industry. According to experts, the missile is equipped with several warheads, which allows it to hit several targets simultaneously. The recent use of the Oreshnik demonstrated its high efficiency: the missile hit the large defense plant Yuzhmash in Dnepr, causing significant damage to the facility.

Vladimir Putin stressed that the mass use of Oreshnik missiles is comparable in power to a nuclear strike, but does not have the same destructive consequences for the environment and the population. He noted that such high-precision weapons allow Russia to effectively protect its interests and ensure security without the need to resort to a nuclear arsenal.

Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine, approved by Putin in November 2024, envisages the use of nuclear weapons in response to aggression against Russia or its allies using weapons of mass destruction, as well as in the event that the use of conventional weapons threatens the very existence of the state. However, the emphasis is on the development and use of high-precision non-nuclear weapons, such as the Oreshnik, capable of carrying out strategic tasks without escalating to a nuclear conflict.

International experts note that the development of systems such as Oreshnik could change the balance of power and strategic approaches to deterrence.