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“They Must Be Crushed!”—Russian MP Demands Oreshnik Strike on Ukraine After Mass Drone Raid on Moscow

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Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
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“They Must Be Crushed!”—Russian MP Demands Oreshnik Strike on Ukraine After Mass Drone Raid on Moscow
Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers roll on Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 9, 2024. (Source: Getty Images)

A senior Russian lawmaker called on Russian leader Vladimir Putin to launch a retaliatory strike on Ukraine following the largest drone attack on Moscow since the start of the full-scale war, Russian media The Moscow Times reported on March 11.

Andrey Kartapolov, chairman of the Russian State Duma’s  Defense Committee, urged the Kremlin to strike Ukraine with the “Oreshnik” missile system, claiming the attack was purely a “propaganda move” by Kyiv.

“The decision is up to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, but I think launching ‘Oreshnik’—and not just one—wouldn’t hurt,” Kartapolov stated.

He insisted the Ukrainian drone raid had no military purpose and was instead timed to coincide with U.S.-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia.

“They want to show off, prove they can do something. That’s why they must be extinguished, destroyed, and put in their place—nothing more,” he declared.

According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian forces launched 337 drones toward Russian territory overnight on March 11, with 91 of them shot down over the Moscow region.

Moscow’s regional governor, Andrey Vorobyov, confirmed that the attack resulted in two deaths and 14 injuries. The hardest-hit areas included Vidnoye, Domodedovo, Ramenskoye, and the villages of Sapronovo and Yam. Debris from downed drones also damaged residential buildings in Ramenskoye, Lyubertsy, and the settlement of Alexandrovka.

Earlier, Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, announced that the Russian missile system Oreshnik is expected to arrive in Belarus imminently. Speaking at a press conference in Minsk, he expressed his aspiration to position the missile system near the Russian city of Smolensk, citing strategic considerations.

According to Lukashenko, the deployment location would depend on ensuring optimal operational efficiency.

“It’s not ideal to place such systems too close to potential targets, but too far reduces their impact. That’s why I’m considering a location closer to Russia, perhaps near Smolensk. However, this is just an idea for now,” he said.

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The State Duma is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia, the upper house being the Federation Council. It was established by the Constitution of the Russian Federation in 1993.