As Russia's armed forces endure significant losses and Ukraine conducts operations within Russian borders, including in Moscow, military experts are reassessing the US states at immediate risk if President Putin opts to use the Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile amid heightened NATO tensions. Introduced in combat in 2025, the Oreshnik travels at speeds of Mach 10 and is equipped with multiple warheads that can target various cities at once. Analysts pinpoint nine states in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest as particularly susceptible due to the presence of NATO military resources and the targeting strategies employed by Russia. The primary concern arises with the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara next week, where a proposed $80 billion commitment to Ukraine may provoke a significant reaction from Moscow.
