The Russia-Ukraine war reached a troubling new chapter on Thursday as Moscow launched an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. The missile, known as “Oreshnik” (the hazel), was confirmed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in a televised address as a response to Ukraine’s recent use of advanced Western weapons to target Russian territory. Putin declared the strike a message to NATO and its allies, further raising tensions in the nearly three-year-old conflict.
The missile attack targeted a facility in Dnipro, a former Soviet missile production hub, causing damage to industrial sites and fires in the area. Two people sustained injuries in the attack, according to the regional governor, Serhiy Lysak. Ukrainian authorities had initially speculated that the weapon was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), but U.S. and NATO officials later identified it as an IRBM equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). Although the missile carried a conventional warhead, experts noted its capacity to be fitted with nuclear payloads, sparking concerns over the possibility of further escalation.
The missile strike follows Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles earlier this week, which targeted Russian military sites in Bryansk and Kursk. These strikes, conducted with long-range capabilities newly approved by the Biden administration and the UK, marked a turning point in Ukraine’s strategy to counter Russian aggression. Putin criticized these actions as a provocation, claiming they transformed a regional conflict into one with broader global implications.
In his address, Putin warned of potential future strikes using the Oreshnik missile, asserting Russia’s right to target military facilities in nations supplying Ukraine with arms. He promised to issue warnings to civilians before deploying such weapons, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed these statements as further proof of Russia’s disregard for peace. Zelenskyy called on the international community to condemn the missile launch, arguing that muted reactions only embolden Moscow’s actions.
The U.S. Defense Department confirmed that it had been notified of the missile launch 30 minutes prior through established nuclear risk reduction channels. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh described the weapon as a new and concerning development, noting its capability to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. While the missile reached speeds of Mach 10, U.S. defense officials refuted Putin’s claims of it being hypersonic.
The missile attack underscores a pattern of increasing intensity in the conflict. Earlier this week, Ukraine used British Storm Shadow cruise missiles to strike a command post in Kursk reportedly housing North Korean military personnel allied with Russia. U.S. officials confirmed that the attack caused casualties among high-ranking North Korean officers, underscoring the growing international dimensions of the war.
As Ukraine approaches 1,000 days of fighting, the stakes continue to rise. Both sides appear to be positioning themselves strategically ahead of potential peace negotiations. President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to take office in two months, has vowed to end the war, though specifics of his approach remain unclear. For now, the conflict shows no signs of abating, with Russia escalating its rhetoric and weaponry while Ukraine leverages Western support to push back against Moscow’s aggression.
NATO representatives condemned the Russian missile launch as an attempt to intimidate Ukraine and its allies. Farah Dakhlallah, a NATO spokesperson, stated that such tactics would not deter the alliance’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty. The coming weeks are likely to see continued clashes, with both sides testing the limits of military and diplomatic efforts in a war that continues to reshape global security dynamics.
Orange = Dinpro region in Ukraine
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