President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a speech on November 24 that there are already air defense systems that can successfully shoot down missiles such as the "Oreshnik", Russia's new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).

Russia first launched the weapon in an attack on Dnipro on November 21. Shortly afterwards, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that “there is currently no way to counter this weapon.”

Mr Zelensky has disputed Mr Putin's claims, saying experts are analysing the missile's debris and working with allies to come up with an appropriate response.

"The world has air defense systems capable of countering such threats," Zelensky said, without specifying which systems.

"Everyone must focus on this. Russia must feel that any step to expand the war will have consequences," he urged.

Ukraine is working with international partners “to jointly find a response to this latest Russian escalation,” he said. Zelensky also noted that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) had released the first images of the missile debris to the media.

Earlier, Interfax-Ukraine quoted a source from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as saying that Ukraine was cooperating with US partners to obtain the THAAD ballistic missile defense system or upgraded Patriot system after Russia's attack with a new type of missile.

In addition, the source said that the number of Russian Oreshnik missiles is currently very limited. At the same time, Kiev believes that Moscow's goal is to use psychological warfare against Ukrainians.

"These weapons are superior to conventional missiles in all respects in terms of altitude and speed," a source from the Ukrainian General Staff said.

Over the weekend, Mr Zelensky confirmed that he had instructed his defence minister to hold meetings with Kiev's allies to acquire air defence systems "capable of protecting the lives of civilians from new risks".

It is not yet clear which complex can intercept Russia's new hypersonic missile.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country used the Oreshnik in response to Ukraine's use of US-made ATACMS and HIMARS systems, as well as British-made Storm Shadow missiles, to attack Russian territory.

According to the Pentagon, the Oreshnik missile is based on the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The Pentagon also confirmed that the US was informed in advance of the launch by Russia.

Hypersonic missiles are capable of flying at least five times the speed of sound, significantly faster than standard cruise missiles, and are able to evade enemy air defenses by maneuvering in flight and at high speeds.

There are not many countries in the world that possess this technology. The US is still developing hypersonic missiles and admits that it is behind competitors such as Russia and China.