Russia May Use New Missile Against Ukraine Again Soon
Two US officials said Russia may use its new intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine soon. The officials did not want to be named.
This comes from two US intelligence assessments that suggest Russia is preparing to deploy the Oreshnik missile against Ukraine within days.
The missile was first used in combat on November 21, when it hit a city called Dnipro in Ukraine. Ukrainian and US sources say the missile might have been made from an older Russian missile.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month that Russia is preparing to use the Oreshnik missile against “decision-making centers” in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
US officials previously warned that Russia might launch the missile by December 31 or sooner. They said Russia only has a few Oreshnik missiles, which carry smaller warheads than other missiles used against Ukraine.
Putin also claimed that Oreshnik’s multiple warheads can penetrate targets at speeds of over 10 times the speed of sound and are hard to intercept.
This development comes after Russia changed its nuclear doctrine and President Biden allowed Ukraine to use US-made long-range missiles. The Russian Defense Ministry warned of potential retaliation after Ukraine used those missiles against a military air base.
The Pentagon said Oreshnik is an experimental missile based on an older Russian intercontinental ballistic missile, not a hypersonic missile.
This potential missile launch happens as the US political landscape is changing, with President-elect Donald Trump suggesting Ukraine might get reduced military support.