In a recent development, President Vladimir Putin has confirmed that Russia has struck Ukraine with a new hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile called the “Oreshnik.” This move comes in response to Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British missiles against Russia. Putin stated that the conflict in Ukraine is escalating towards a global conflict and warned the West that Moscow would strike back.
The “Oreshnik” missile is a hypersonic ballistic missile with a range of 5,000 km, capable of traveling at speeds ten times the speed of sound, making it impossible to intercept. This missile is equipped with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles, allowing it to hit multiple targets simultaneously. Russian military expert Anatoly Matviychuk stated that the missile could carry six to eight conventional or nuclear warheads and may already be in service.
The Pentagon confirmed that the missile Russia fired was based on the “RS-26 Rubezh” intercontinental ballistic missile. This development marks a clear escalation according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who called for worldwide condemnation. The RS-26 is a solid-fueled, road-mobile missile that entered development in 2008.
The United States withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia in 2019, citing violations by Moscow. However, Russia denied these accusations. The United States previously accused Russia of developing a ground-based cruise missile in addition to the RS-26. The Ukraine conflict continues to escalate with the use of advanced ballistic missile technology on both sides.
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