Russia Hits Ukraine With IRBM, Says US Missile Defense Base In Poland Is In Its Sights, US Adjusts Nuclear Deterrence Strategy
Russia Says US Missile Defense Base In Poland Has Been Considered Priority Target For Russian Armed Forces.
US/EUROPE - After the Ukrainian military claimed that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro from Astrahan, Russia around 621 miles away, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow had hit Ukraine with its new ‘Oreshnik’ Hypersonic Missile in response to strikes within its territory by American-provided long-range missiles.
During a press briefing Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh announced that the missile Russia launched at Dnipro, Ukraine was an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) based on the RS-26 Rubezh ICBM model.
The RS-26 can be loaded with either a single warhead, or Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRVS), which were suspected by our OSINT analysts due to the multiple warheads flying in sync before hitting their targets.
The United States was pre-notified briefly before the launch, according to the press briefing statement Singh. The assessment by the U.S. official is in alignment with Russian claims that it fired a ballistic missile, and not an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) which can travel at a greater distance.
Initially, the Ukrainian Air Force released a statement saying that it tracked what it believed to be an ICBM on Thursday morning hitting Dnipior, along with six other missiles:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the missile had the "characteristics" of an ICBM, such as the same speed an altitude an ICBM would have, but Ukraine has not released any evidence to support the claims.
Zelensky said, "Today it was a new Russian missile. All the parameters: speed, altitude -- match those of an intercontinental ballistic missile".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensk said in a video, “Today, our insane neighbor has once again revealed its true nature—its disdain for dignity, freedom, and human life itself. And, most of all, its fear. Fear so overwhelming that it unleashes missile after missile, scouring the globe for more weapons—whether from Iran or North Korea.”
He added, “Today, it was a new Russian missile. Its speed and altitude suggest intercontinental ballistic capabilities. Investigations are ongoing. It’s clear that Putin is using Ukraine as a testing ground.
It’s also clear that he is terrified of normal life next to him. A life where people live with dignity. A country that wants to be free and has the right to be independent. Putin will do anything to keep his neighbor from slipping out of his grasp. And I thank every Ukrainian—men and women alike—who defend Ukraine from this evil with resilience, bravery, and strength. With dignity.
Dignity. It’s one of the defining words for Ukraine. And it’s a word that will likely never again be spoken about Russia.”
Russia Says US Missile Defense Base In Poland Has Been Considered Priority Target For Russian Armed Forces, US Adjusts Nuclear Deterrence Strategy
The Russian Foreign Ministry also said that the US missile defense base in Poland has been considered a priority target for the Russian Armed Forces for a long time, and continues to be.
The Department of Defense has adjusted its nuclear deterrence strategy as it says nuclear peer adversaries have escalated.
Pentagon: “DOD, in partnership with the National Nuclear Security Administration, has already taken steps to field capabilities to enhance nuclear deterrence and flexibility and to reduce risk to the department's nuclear modernization program.”
“These include the B61-13 gravity bomb, delivered by aircraft, as well as the enhanced readiness of nuclear armed and powered Ohio-class submarines.”
DOD Adjusts Nuclear Deterrence Strategy as Nuclear Peer Adversaries Escalate
The Pentagon released a statement today saying, “DOD, in partnership with the National Nuclear Security Administration, has already taken steps to field capabilities to enhance nuclear deterrence and flexibility and to reduce risk to the department's nuclear modernization program”.
It added, “These include the B61-13 gravity bomb, delivered by aircraft, as well as the enhanced readiness of nuclear armed and powered Ohio-class submarines.”
Putin Gives Address, Russian Foreign Ministry Says Poland In Russian Military’s Sights
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