Russia used a medium range ballistic missile (MRBM) in an attack against Ukraine, as confirmed by the Ukrainian air force this Thursday and ratified by the United States hours later. This launch marks the first time Moscow has resorted to a weapon of this range in the conflict, in what experts consider a strategic message towards the West.
The missile was launched from the region of Astrakhanin the south of Russia; and pointed to the city of Dniproin east-central Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian authorities, The attack targeted businesses and critical infrastructure.. The flashes of the impact were captured by security cameras in the city, whose location was verified by the news agency Reuters through satellite images and previous records of the place.
Michael Bohnertan engineer and analyst at the RAND Corporation, explained that these types of missiles have both nuclear and conventional capabilities. “What we can say for sure is that it has what are called multiple reentry vehicleswhere a missile releases several smaller warheads that impact very close to each other on the ground,” he told the cited agency.
The use of this type of missile on a relatively close target appears to have implications beyond the battlefield. According to Bohnert, “Using a missile of this range against a nearby target is a message from Russia to the West”.
The attack occurred days after Ukraine will use missiles supplied by the United States and the United Kingdom to hit targets on Russian territory, an action that Moscow has described as a “major climb”.
Although it was initially speculated that the missile used was a classic ICBM with a range of more than 5,500 kilometers, Russian sources later suggested that it was a medium-range missilecon a range of between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometers. However, for Bohnert, “regardless of the exact missile, The warheads delivered are practically the same; the difference lies in the propellant that launches them”.
The attack could also be linked to debates in the West about supplying more advanced weapons to Ukraine. Bohnert pointed out that these types of actions seek to influence the decisions of allied countries. “Russia tries to prevent long-range missiles from being delivered to Ukrainesince this could strengthen kyiv’s position in future negotiations,” he explained.
Throughout the conflict, Russia has used ballistic missiles of various types to attack Ukraine, but The use of a missile of this type raises new concerns.
Bohnert stressed that intercontinental and intermediate-range ballistic missiles are often part of the Russia’s strategic nuclear arsenal. However, he assured that in this case It does not seem to be a nuclear weapon, but rather an attack with conventional munitions.
“While people talk about the possibility of a nuclear missile or nuclear escalation, the focus here is on conventional ammunition”, he stated. He added that this type of missile is designed to specific objectiveslike air bases o strategic defensesbut that its impact on the conflict is limited.
For analysts, the missile launch has both a tactical and symbolic purpose. “This will not have a significant effect on the conflict and should not alter Western support for Ukraine.“, said Bohnert.
He considered that these types of actions seek “demonstrate Russia’s ability to hit key targets” and put pressure on Western allies to limit their military aid to kyiv.
The attack on Dniprowhich occurs at a time of escalating hostilities in the nearly three-year war, reinforces Russia’s use of long-range weapons to send a geopolitical message. In the words of Bohnert, “It’s Putin acting because he feels vulnerable, using one of the few ways he has left to try to appear strong.”.
Analysis of the attack footage showed flashes of light captured by security cameras in the city of Dnipro.
Reuters confirmed the location of the camera and the direction of the flashes using archival and satellite images. While it could not be independently verified that the flashes were caused by intermediate-range missiles, The damaged buildings recorded in the direction of the impacts match the descriptions provided by local authorities.
The attack occurred in a context of increasing tensions between Russia and the West, where technological advances and military movements continue to play a key role in the dynamics of the conflict.
The Kremlin assured this Friday that Russia clearly demonstrated, with the launch of a hypersonic ballistic missile the day before, its responsiveness in the face of the use of long-range Western weapons against its territory.
“The Russian side clearly demonstrated its capabilities“, said Dmitri Peskovpresidential spokesperson, in his daily telephone press conference.
Peskov added that the “foolish“Western actions in supplying weapons to kyiv and participating in those Ukrainian attacks with American and British missiles against the border regions of Bryansk and Kursk”they cannot be left without reaction from the Russian side”.
The spokesperson also warned that the day before in his message to the nation the Russian president, Vladimir Putinalso drew with precision “the outline of future responses“in case Russian concerns”are not taken into account”.
He admitted that Moscow would have liked Washington to have listened to reason when Putin said in September that the use of long-range missiles against Russia would mean that NATO and the US “are at war with Russia.”
All in all, he considered that Putin’s television intervention was “so complete” that it leaves no room for doubt about Russia’s position on the matter and expressed his confidence that the US receives the message.
The Rada Suprema (Parliament) of Ukraine has canceled a session scheduled for this Friday due to the risk of a Russian attack against the area of kyiv that houses the Parliament, the presidency and several government headquarters, according to the newspaper. Ukrainska Pravda.
The publication cites as sources: deputies who were alerted to a potential Russian attack against the area where Parliament, the presidential palace and several government buildings are located.
Given this situation, Lawmakers have been asked to stay away from the areathe deputies told the newspaper.
The suspension of the session has been confirmed on his Telegram account by the opposition deputy Oleksí Goncharenkowhich has explained that it will be postponed until December. Goncharenko has not mentioned the reasons that led to the suspension and has implied that he sees the decision as political.
“There had to be an hour of questions to the Government, but now it will not be possible to ask the Government about its stupid decisions,” wrote the legislator from former President Petro Poroshenko’s party.
(With information from Reuters and EFE)
