MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin stated Russia had struck Ukraine with a brand new hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile in response to Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British missiles towards Russia.
What’s the “Oreshnik” (Hazel tree)?
WHAT DID PUTIN SAY?
Putin stated on Thursday that the Ukraine battle was escalating in direction of a world battle after the USA and Britain allowed Ukraine to strike deeper into Russia with their missiles, and warned the West that Moscow might strike again.
In direct response to Ukraine’s use of U.S. and British missiles on Nov. 21, he stated Russia had launched an “Oreshnik”, certainly one of its latest intermediate-range missiles, at a defence enterprise within the Ukrainian metropolis of Dnipro.
Town is house to the missile and area rocket firm Pivdenmash, often known as Yuzhmash to Russians.
WHAT IS THE MISSILE?
Putin stated “Oreshnik” was a hypersonic ballistic missile.
He stated it travelled at 10 occasions the pace of sound and so couldn’t be intercepted. Russian sources stated the vary was 5,000 km (3,100 miles), permitting Russia to strike most of Europe and the west coast of the USA.
It seems to have a number of independently targetable re-entry automobiles: separate warheads capable of hit totally different targets.
Anatoly Matviychuk, a Russian navy knowledgeable, stated it might carry six to eight standard or nuclear warheads, and was in all probability already in service, in response to Yuri Podolyaka, a outstanding Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian navy blogger.
The Pentagon stated the missile that Russia fired was primarily based on the “RS-26 Rubezh” intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
It stated the U.S. had been notified of the launch by way of nuclear danger discount channels.
WHAT DID UKRAINE SAY?
Ukraine’s air power stated Russia had fired an ICBM at Dnipro, although the USA stated that was incorrect. ICBMs are outlined as having a spread better than 5,500 km (3,400 miles).
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated {that a} Russian assault with a brand new kind of ballistic missile was a “clear and severe escalation” and known as for worldwide condemnation.
WHAT IS THE RS-26?
The RS-26 is a solid-fuelled, road-mobile ballistic missile that entered growth in 2008.
America formally withdrew from the landmark 1987 Intermediate-Vary Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia in 2019 after saying that Moscow was violating the accord, an accusation the Kremlin denied.
America stated on the time that Russia was creating a ground-based cruise missile (often known as 9M729 in Russia) that was distinct from the RS-26.
