Introduction

In a bold move, Vladimir Putin announced that Russia has successfully launched a new hypersonic ballistic missile against Ukraine, a direct response to Ukraine's military strikes inside Russian territory utilizing long-range missiles supplied by the US and UK.

Details of the Missile

The missile, dubbed the Oreshnik or Hazel, is purported to have been deployed in an assault on Dnipro, a central Ukrainian city. This claim follows Ukraine’s assertion that its forces have successfully launched an intercontinental warhead towards targets in Russia. Putin issued a stark warning, indicating that Russia is prepared to target military installations in nations that permit Ukraine to wield American and British missiles against Russian soil.

Kremlin's Message to the West

The Kremlin indicated on Friday that this missile launch serves as a pointed message to the West: Moscow will retaliate decisively against any “reckless” actions taken by Western nations in support of Ukraine. “We firmly believe we have the right to utilize our military assets against the facilities of those countries that allow for attacks on our sovereign territory,” Putin emphasized.

Classification of the Oreshnik Missile

But what exactly do we know about this experimental Oreshnik missile, and does it pose a threat to Europe? Initial reports from Ukraine’s air force categorized the missile as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), a designation suggesting that it could potentially reach targets as far away as the United States. However, the US military later clarified that the Oreshnik is actually an intermediate-range missile, based on the design of Russia's longer-range RS-26 ICBM.

Capabilities and Specifications

The Pentagon confirmed the missile was launched with a conventional warhead, although it hinted that modifications could allow the addition of nuclear capabilities. “It could be retrofitted to carry different types of conventional or nuclear warheads,” stated Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh. The Kremlin has since claimed that all warheads used in the missile's recent deployment successfully reached their designated targets, marking what they tout as the first successful operation of an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile in combat scenarios.

Military Implications

While employing an intermediate-range missile is viewed as a less provocative act compared to an ICBM launch, the implications of this incident are significant. Moscow did notify Wshington shortly before the missile's launch, which US officials stated was not a requirement given the missile's classification. However, the Kremlin chose to alert the US a mere 30 minutes before the strike.

Analyst Insights

Notable military analyst Anatoly Matviychuk suggested that the missile could carry between six to eight warheads and is likely already operational. Putin claimed the missile achieves speeds of ten times that of sound (Mach 10), claiming it is designed to evade interception with a range of approximately 3,100 miles. Furthermore, reports suggest that the Oreshnik missile may possess Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs), a capability allowing it to strike various targets simultaneously.

Impact and Conclusion

According to Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, the missile that struck Dnipro was launched from Astrakhan, reaching its impact point within just 15 minutes and carrying six warheads, each equipped with six submunitions. The final phase of its trajectory exceeded speeds of Mach 11.

The HUR has speculated that this weapon is likely part of the ‘Kedr’ missile complex, linking it to Russia’s extensive ICBM missile projects. As tensions continue to escalate, the world watches closely to see how developments unfold regarding this formidable new weapon system and its potential implications for global security.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story progresses!