22-11-2024 (MOSCOW) Russia launched a hypersonic missile strike against the city of Dnipro on Thursday, marking a significant intensification of military operations that have now stretched beyond 33 months. The strike comes in direct response to recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory using Western-supplied weaponry.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the deployment of a new ballistic missile system, dubbed ‘Oreshnik’ (meaning ‘the hazel’), in a televised address to the nation. Speaking after 1700 GMT, Putin emphasised the broadening scope of the conflict, stating that what began as a regional dispute “has now acquired elements of a global character” due to Western involvement.
Prior to the strike, Moscow took the unprecedented step of notifying Washington, according to US defence officials. The Americans, in turn, had briefed Kyiv and other allies about the possible deployment of such advanced weaponry.
Conflicting reports emerged about the exact nature of the missile. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested it was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), citing its speed and altitude characteristics, US officials classified it as an intermediate-range ballistic missile with a more limited range.
The strike follows Ukraine’s recent deployment of US and British-supplied missiles against targets within Russian territory, despite Moscow’s explicit warnings that such actions would be viewed as a serious escalation. This latest development marks a concerning shift in the conflict’s trajectory, potentially signalling a new phase in the war’s intensity.
“An expert investigation is currently underway,” Zelenskyy confirmed in a video statement, addressing the technical specifications of the Russian missile strike.
