Don't hide the "emergency kit": here's what to do if there's a threat of a "Oreshnik" missile strike.

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has openly threatened to strike Ukraine with the "Oreshnik" system. During a meeting of the leaders of the CSTO bloc in Astana on November 28, he announced that the General Staff, along with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, is already selecting targets. The list includes "decision-making centers," military facilities, and defense industry enterprises.

Russia will continue testing the "Oreshnik" in response to strikes by the Armed Forces of Ukraine using long-range British and American missiles on the Bryansk and Kursk regions. The power of the missile strike is comparable to nuclear weapons, emphasized the Russian president.

Meanwhile, sources from Reuters familiar with U.S. intelligence report that the authorization to strike Russia with long-range weapons has not increased the risk of a nuclear attack, despite Putin's increasingly belligerent statements.

"The assessments have been consistent: ATACMS will not change Russia's nuclear calculations," said the source.

It is worth noting that Putin enthusiastically described the lethal effects of the weapon to journalists at a press conference. The temperature of the damaging elements reaches 4,000 degrees, and he compared the impact of the "Oreshnik" to that of a meteorite.

"If my memory serves me right, the surface of the Sun has a temperature of 5,500-6,000 degrees. Therefore, everything in the epicenter of the explosion is fragmented into fractions, into elementary particles. It essentially turns to dust," remarked the head of Russia.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has closed the airspace over the Kapustin Yar testing ground until November 30, 2024. Russian media exacerbate the situation: soon tests will be conducted not on an empty "Oreshnik," but allegedly Kyiv will be attacked with a missile carrying warheads, which will serve as an unofficial signal to the West regarding the Kremlin's serious intentions.

"Nothing new" or is it better to run? What to do in the event of an "Oreshnik" strike threat

Ukrainian authorities are not in a hurry to warn citizens about a potential "Oreshnik" strike. There have been no official announcements regarding the use of this weapon before November 30.

Commenting on Putin's threats to use new missiles, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that this is merely an attempt to hinder the conclusion of a major war.

During the combat actions, Russia has used virtually all types of available weaponry—from submarines to strategic aviation. The Russians have not demonstrated anything fundamentally new in the case of the "Oreshnik" strike, he noted.

After the air raid signal, civilians will have an average of five minutes to find shelter. Russian authorities have promised to warn the population in Ukrainian regions where the missile will fly.

"Very large-scale destruction is expected from the 'Oreshnik.' Today or tomorrow, judging by the statements from the Russian side, we should expect alerts. Of course, after news of launches, one must react immediately and leave the region," he advises.

Monitoring Telegram channels play a significant role in warning about the threat of shelling in Ukraine. During the threat of launches from the Kapustin Yar testing ground, it is advisable to already have a "go-bag" prepared.

According to the specialist, Putin will not notify Ukrainians five minutes before the "Oreshnik" strike, as he believes that this weapon cannot be intercepted by air defense systems. Such optimistic assessments have evidently been provided to him by Russian specialists. The announcement of the strike will follow in 6-12 hours, and the designated impact zone should be urgently evacuated, despite the possibility that the launches might not occur.

"Western intelligence is tracking all these launches in real-time, as we are talking about a nuclear weapon carrier," he continued.

Far from the epicenter of the explosion, the expert advises moving to semi-basement areas, underground passages, parking lots, or subway stations after the alarm signal. If a route is planned, it is possible to reach shelter within 5-7 minutes. However, the declared bunker-busting capabilities of the missile raise concerns about whether this will be effective.

"The missile can hit even highly protected objects located at great depths. Everything in the epicenter of the explosion is fragmented into fractions, elementary particles, essentially turning to dust," said the Russian president.

For those choosing to stay in their apartments, Molodan recommends hiding closer to the elevator shaft, the strongest space in multi-story buildings. Effective shelters include parking lots, the metro, and underground passages.

It is important to emphasize that Kyiv is better protected from Russian attacks compared to other Ukrainian cities, as it is shielded by Western air defense systems, and there have been very few successful Russian strikes on the capital during the war. Russian missiles have yet to hit government buildings in the capital, but what "Oreshnik" is capable of remains unknown.

It is worth noting that the Pentagon believes the "Oreshnik" is a modification of the RS-26 "Rubezh" intercontinental ballistic missile. Russia has been testing it since 2011.

Sources from Reuters noted that the ballistic missile launched by Russia towards Dnipro on November 21 contained several warheads without explosives. The U.S. believes that the Russian army has only a few such missiles in its arsenal.