Russia Didn't Strike Ukraine With ICBM. It Was IRBM - ‘Oreshnik’

Russia launched a new, mysterious ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro early on Thursday, reportedly causing extensive damage to buildings and injuring several individuals.

This strike occurred a day after Ukraine used US-made ATACMS missiles in an attack on Russian targets.

Russia's New Missile Identified

The missile, initially mistaken for an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), has been confirmed as an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) named "Oreshnik," which translates to "hazelnut tree" in Russian, according to US officials.

Oreshnik: Russia's Latest Development

Washington has indicated that Russia deployed a previously unseen IRBM, described as experimental, reported Reuters. The missile is believed to be based on the design of the longer-range RS-26 Rubezh ICBM, with Russia likely possessing only a small number of these weapons.

Ukraine's air force initially identified the missile as an ICBM, raising fears of significant escalation. However, while IRBMs pose less of a direct threat compared to ICBMs, the missile's use has nonetheless caused alarm in Washington.

US officials confirmed that Moscow briefly notified Washington prior to the launch and stated that the missile was equipped with a conventional warhead.

An 'Experimental' Weapon

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh explained that the missile has the potential to be reconfigured for carrying various types of warheads, including nuclear ones.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised address, confirmed that the missile, named "Oreshnik," was used in an attack on a Ukrainian military facility.

Jeffrey Lewis, a non-proliferation expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, noted that the RS-26 was an ideal candidate for conversion into an IRBM, particularly following the US and Germany's decision to deploy long-range missiles in Europe by 2026.

Singh remarked, "It's the first time that we've seen it employed on the battlefield, so that's why we consider it experimental."

Timothy Wright, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, warned that Russia's missile advancements might prompt NATO to reevaluate its air defence strategies and offensive capabilities.

A Response to Escalating Tensions

The missile launch comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions over a US missile defence base in northern Poland, part of NATO's broader missile shield designed to intercept short- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

Although Putin insisted that the launch was unrelated to the US base, he suggested it was a response to Ukraine's recent deep strikes within Russian territory.

On 19 and 21 November, Ukrainian forces, with US approval, deployed American-made ATACMS and HIMARS systems, along with British Storm Shadow missiles, to strike targets in Russia, including a missile and defence firm in Dnipro, Ukraine.

Putin also criticised the US for withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, describing the decision as a "mistake." He added, *"I believe that the United States made a mistake by unilaterally destroying the treaty on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles in 2019 under a far-fetched pretext."*

The treaty, a key pillar of arms control during the Cold War, was officially abandoned by the US, which accused Russia of violations-claims that Moscow denied.

International Reactions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the missile strike, calling it a *"clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war."*

The European Union echoed these sentiments, accusing Russia of escalating the conflict with its latest missile attack.