Russia may be planning to transfer its most advanced hypersonic missiles to Venezuela as tensions with the United States escalate over alleged drug trafficking and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The move comes as President Trump ramps up pressure on the Latin American nation.
According to Alexei Zhuravlyov, deputy chair of Russia‘s parliamentary defense committee, the Kremlin’s Oreshnik missile is virtually impossible to intercept and can be equipped with either conventional or nuclear warheads.
Zhuravlyov warned that « the Americans may have some surprises » as he suggested the possibility of deploying these weapons to Venezuela.
Russia considers sending nuclear-capable missiles to ‘Venezuela or Cuba’
The Institute for the Study of War reported that Zhuravlyov stated Russia could deliver nuclear-capable missiles to « Venezuela or Cuba, » highlighting their proximity to the United States, which he referred to as Russia’s « main geopolitical adversary. »
Russian official says US is ‘not a friend or partner’ but an ‘enemy’
Zhuravlyov emphasized that Russia has an « entire range » of missiles at its disposal and will utilize « what is needed. » He bluntly declared that the United States is not a friend or partner of Russia, but rather an enemy.
According to the report, Zhuravlyov’s threats are intended to remind the world of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when tensions between the US and Russia brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.
« I see no obstacles to providing a friendly country with new developments like the Oreshnik missile or, say, Kalibr missiles, which have already proven effective, » Zhuravlyov said, expressing Russia’s willingness to share its cutting-edge missile technology with allies.
Russia uses Oreshnik for first time in Ukraine as retaliation
Moscow claims that the Oreshnik missile, whose name translates to « hazelnut, » could strike any target in continental Europe in less than an hour if launched from Russia or Belarus.
President Vladimir Putin has asserted that the missiles are so powerful that multiple conventional-warhead strikes would be as devastating as a nuclear attack.
In November 2024, Moscow deployed the Oreshnik missile for the first time in Dnipro, eastern Ukraine.
Putin described the strike as retaliation for Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons supplied by the US and UK, including Storm Shadow missiles, against targets inside Russia.
Source link
