Large-scale production of Russia's nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile is a goal for "the near future," Putin alleged at a defense ministry board meeting on Dec. 16.

Yet, a recent slip from Vladimir Putin has raised questions about whether one of its much-hyped weapons is as operational as claimed. The confusion stems from Putin’s contradictory statements about the Oreshnik missile — a system allegedly capable of delivering hypersonic strikes,

According to Russian state news agency TASS, Putin made this statement during an expanded session of the Russian Ministry of Defense’s collegium on Dec. 16. Putin called Oreshnik a “new powerful weapon” for Russia.