Russia used an experimental intermediate range ballistic missile rather than an ICBM, U.S. Military Officials say
Pentagon officials confirmed Thursday that Russia launched an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) toward the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, contradicting initial reports from Kyiv that suggested it was an intercontinental ballistic missile.
According to Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh, the missile was based on Russia's RS-26 Rubezh system. U.S. officials indicate that Russia likely possesses very few of these experimental weapons, possibly "a handful" at most.
The missile contained multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) - technology typically associated with nuclear-capable ICBMs that allows multiple warheads to strike different targets. However, U.S. officials confirmed the warheads used in this attack were conventional, not nuclear.
The U.S. received brief advance notice of the launch and had previously briefed Ukraine and other allies about Russia's potential use of such a weapon, helping them prepare for this scenario.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the use of what he called "one of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems" against Ukraine, describing it as a "ballistic missile with non-nuclear hypersonic equipment." He claimed the test was successful.
Putin also issued a warning, stating Russia reserves the right to use its weapons against military facilities of countries that supply weapons used against Russian targets, promising "decisive" responses to any escalation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized the missile launch as "a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war."
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russia notified the United States approximately 30 minutes before launching what they called the "Oreshnik" missile at targets in Dnipro.
The use of this experimental IRBM marks a new development in Russia's military operations in Ukraine, introducing previously unused missile technology into the conflict.