11/21 – International News Update & Story

Russia has escalated tensions in the Ukraine conflict by firing a new ballistic missile at a military-industrial facility in Dnipro, marking the first deployment of such a weapon in the war. 

Hours after the strike, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a television appearance, unveiling the missile as an intermediate-range ballistic weapon capable of reaching speeds ten times the speed of sound.

“Modern air defense systems that exist in the world and anti-missile defenses created by the Americans in Europe can’t intercept such missiles,” Putin boasted. [AP News]

The missile, named “Oreshnik,” which translates to “hazelnut tree” in Russian, represents a significant development in Moscow’s arsenal. Putin described the test as successful, framing the weapon as a direct response to the U.S. development and deployment of similar missiles. Intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) like this one can travel distances between 500 and 5,500 kilometers and are capable of carrying heavier payloads, including multiple warheads.

Ukrainian military officials stated the missile was launched from Astrakhan, a region in southern Russia near the Caspian Sea. This missile’s use underscores a shift in the conflict’s scale, as a weapon of this scale and range surpasses anything seen in the war so far. 

Following approval from the Biden administration, Ukraine launched a series of attacks on Russian targets using Western-supplied weaponry, President Putin asserted. On November 19, six U.S.-made ATACMS missiles were deployed against Russia, followed by British Storm Shadow missiles and U.S.-made HIMARS on November 21, according to Putin.

In a televised address, Putin characterized the escalation as a significant turning point in the ongoing conflict. “From that moment, as we have repeatedly underscored, a regional conflict in Ukraine previously provoked by the West has acquired elements of a global character,” he stated. [Reuters] 

These developments highlight the increasing involvement of Western nations in supporting Ukraine’s military operations, intensifying the war’s scope and raising concerns about broader international repercussions. Putin’s remarks further underscore the Kremlin’s stance that Western assistance to Ukraine is a direct provocation, pushing the conflict beyond regional boundaries.

Opinion: 

The strike comes during a period of heightened hostilities. Ukraine recently used U.S.-supplied long-range missiles against Russian targets, prompting Moscow’s retaliatory actions. “We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow their weapons to be used against us,” Putin warned, adding that Russia is prepared for further escalation if provoked.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, accusing Russia of using his country as a testing ground for advanced weaponry. “Today, our insane neighbor has once again shown what they truly are, and how they despise dignity, freedom, and human life itself,” Zelenskyy said in an address.

Western officials have expressed alarm at the development. Two U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, suggested that Russia has only a limited stock of these experimental missiles, making regular use unlikely and more for show amidst the recent development of U.S. and U.K. missiles being fired into Russia. 

Meanwhile, U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey warned of an escalation in the conflict, describing the current situation as the most unstable since the war began.

Russia’s deployment of the Oreshnik missile signals a new phase in the conflict, raising concerns about the implications for NATO and the broader geopolitical landscape. Putin has already indicated many times that Russia is essentially now at war with NATO due to their advanced technical role in Western long-range weaponry being fired into Russian territory. 

Putin has consistently claimed that the United States is pushing the world towards a global, WWIII-style conflict. As both sides continue to escalate their military strategies, the potential for further destabilization looms large.