Russia's Launch of Advanced Missiles Towards Dnipro Escalates Tensions with NATO and Ukraine

Early Thursday morning, a barrage of missiles was fired by Russia towards the eastern city of Dnipro, Ukraine. This strike included a new type of ballistic missile that has raised concerns among NATO member nations. The advanced multiple-warhead battlefield weapon, which has been evaluated by the Pentagon, has triggered NATO to convene an emergency summit on Tuesday. The assault included cruise missiles, among which was identified as a variant of the RS-26, an "experimental" intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), reconfigured from a Russian intercontinental ballistic missile, according to a U.S. official. This missile targeted Dnipro in central Ukraine, focusing on a specific area and carrying six warheads approximately 750 miles from the launch point, in retaliation for Ukraine's earlier attack on a military facility in Russia.

Unique Threat Posed by Ballistic Missiles

However, Ukraine is braced for further such attacks. U.S. officials publicly assert that Russia likely possesses only a limited number of these experimental missiles, while sources indicate that these ballistic missiles present a distinct threat. They can reach a distance of 3,000 miles and have a multiple-payload system. These systems are designed to carry and launch multiple warheads, releasing them at varying speeds and in different directions, potentially covering an area of over 1,000 miles. Additionally, they are capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Concerns and Implications

The introduction of these advanced missile systems has heightened concerns for both the United States and NATO. This marks the first recorded use of such a system, leaving much uncertainty regarding its operational application. A U.S. official raised the question, "What if he decides to target Lviv next," alluding to a city in Western Ukraine near the Polish border. These systems pose a formidable challenge to even the most sophisticated air defense systems in Ukraine, which has been striving to defend itself from Russia for over 2.5 years since the commencement of the invasion by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

International Reactions

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh disclosed that Russian officials apprised the U.S. of the missile launch through nuclear risk reduction channels, preventing misidentification as an intercontinental ballistic missile and averting a potential nuclear threat. Amidst this backdrop, Poland has intensified its unease regarding these new developments, even though Russia already possesses adequate capability to strike NATO partners. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk underscored the "serious and real" threat of a global war. On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the actions as a "clear and severe escalation" by Russia, accusing President Putin of using Ukraine as a "testing ground."

Policy Shift and its Repercussions

The recently concluded decision by President Biden to permit Ukraine to deploy U.S.-made and supplied missiles deeper into Russia has incited vehement reactions from Moscow, marking a significant policy shift. As the situation continues to evolve, concerns regarding the potential ramifications of these developments are paramount.