The Olenegorsk missile is believed to have taken off from Russia’s Kapustin Yar rocket base, approximately 800 kilometres east of Dnipro, at a safe distance from the Ukrainian city.
For the first time ever, an intercontinental ballistic missile (IRBM) has been employed in combat. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, ratified by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1988, prohibited the possession of ground-launched intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs). The United States withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) in 2019 under the presidency of Donald Trump, alleging Russian non-compliance with treaty provisions. At the time, US officials noted that China, non-signatory to the treaty, held an arsenal exceeding 1,000 intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs).
Putin suggested that Western air defenses would be ineffective against Russia’s Oreshnik missiles in flight, a claim that has yet to be independently verified. Russia would allegedly issue advance warnings to Ukraine preceding comparable missile attacks, allowing civilians to evacuate danger zones beforehand?
Putin noted that the Oreshnik missiles attain velocities of up to Mach 10, translating to approximately 7,680 to 9,840 kilometers per hour, or nearly 3 kilometers per second. “The existing global air defense systems, including those being developed by the United States for deployment in Europe, are currently incapable of effectively intercepting such ballistic missiles.”
A World Conflict?
In a particularly ominous portion of his address, Putin warned that the conflict in Ukraine was escalating into an international crisis, entitling Russia to deploy missiles against Western nations providing weaponry for Ukraine to target Russian assets.
“As tensions escalate,” Putin stated, “we will respond swiftly and proportionally.” “I strongly advise leaders of countries considering military action against Russia to carefully weigh the potential consequences.”
Putin’s recent approval of a revised nuclear doctrine has significantly reduced the threshold for Russia to employ nuclear weapons in response to a conventional attack posing an existential threat to its territorial integrity.
It seems that this has already taken place. Ukraine launched a military offensive deep into Russia’s Kursk region in August, securing control over more than 1,000 square kilometres. kilometers of Russian land. Russian-backed forces, accompanied by North Korean military personnel, are mounting a counterattack in an effort to reclaim control over the contested terrain.
Indian Foreign Minister Singh deemed Russia’s proposal for North Korea’s military involvement an “escalatory” move, warning that Putin might choose to conclude the conflict immediately.
According to US officials, Russian forces are reportedly experiencing significant casualties daily, with approximately 1,200 fatalities or accidents occurring each day within the conflict zone. According to a September report by The Wall Street Journal, citing US intelligence estimates, approximately one million Ukrainians and Russians have lost their lives or suffered injuries as a result of the ongoing conflict.
According to the latest report from the United Nations Human Rights Office, a staggering 11,973 civilians have lost their lives, including 622 children, since Russia’s large-scale invasion began in February 2022.
“We had previously cautioned Russia in 2022 against taking such actions, yet they proceeded despite our warnings,” he noted, emphasizing the consequences of their defiance. However, we don’t need to allow this situation to spiral out of control and precipitate a broader regional conflict. We don’t seek to create conflict with Russia.
