The remains of a car that exploded in Sevastopol, killing a Russian naval officer, have raised concerns about escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia tested a new intermediate-range missile, the Oreshnik, in a strike on Ukraine. The use of this hypersonic missile was seen as a severe escalation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who called for strong reactions to Russia’s actions. The international community, including Nato, is set to meet to discuss Moscow’s use of the missile.
The missile, initially thought to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by Ukraine’s air force, was later identified as an intermediate-range missile (IRBM) based on the design of Russia’s longer-range RS-26 ICBM. The Pentagon warned that the IRBM could be refitted to carry different types of conventional or nuclear warheads, posing a threat to European and American targets.
The Kremlin stated that the strike using the Oreshnik missile was a warning to the West that Moscow would respond harshly to any support of Ukraine’s actions by Western countries. Despite the missile being launched at a less threatening signal, its capabilities, including the ability to carry multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles, raised concerns about the damage it could cause. The speed and reach of the missile, coupled with its warhead capacity, pose a significant threat to regional stability.
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