Russia Allegedly Employs Hypersonic Missile in Ukraine, as asserted by Biden
In a significant development, Russia has been confirmed to have used hypersonic missiles against Ukraine. The Oreshnik hypersonic missile, capable of speeds up to Mach 10, was reportedly used in a strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on November 21, 2024 [2][3].
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have used hypersonic missiles on Friday to strike an underground missiles and aviation ammunition storage facility in western Ukraine [1]. This move demonstrates Russia's advanced missile capabilities and poses a strategic threat, challenging NATO's eastern flank security, especially as Russia deploys these missiles in Belarus, which borders Ukraine and NATO member states [1][2][3].
The use of hypersonic missiles signifies a technological escalation in the conflict, complicating Ukraine's air defense. Recent Russian strikes have involved not only hypersonic missiles like the Kinzhals but also large drone and cruise missile attacks targeting key Ukrainian military sites, illustrating sustained pressure from Russia using advanced weaponry as part of an intensified campaign [4].
President Joe Biden has acknowledged the use of hypersonic missiles by Russia, stating that they are the only thing that Russia can get through with absolute certainty [5]. He also mentioned that the prolonged war is pushing Russian President Vladimir Putin's hand to use such weaponry [6].
However, from a military perspective, there is not a lot of practicality about using a hypersonic missile in this scenario, according to an unnamed senior defense official [7]. The official suggested possible reasons such as running low on precision-guided munitions or trying to send a message [7]. The official also speculated that Russia might be trying to gain leverage at the negotiating table by using a hypersonic missile [7].
The Congressional Research Service has stated that Russia has accelerated its efforts on hypersonic weapons due to the deployment of U.S. missile defense at home and in Europe [8]. This technological advancement is a concern for NATO and Western powers, as hypersonic missiles travel at speeds of at least Mach 5 and can evade current missile defense systems due to their speed and unpredictable trajectory [2][3].
This news article is adapted from its original source by SyndiGate.info and is copyrighted by UPI in 2022. It is written by Sally Shakkour, the leader of the English news team and a news and breaking news writer with over 6-year experience in publishing content and digital journalism. Sally excels in writing original node stories and monitoring Al Bawaba's social media accounts with her insights and knowledge of current trends and popular issues.
References: [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-used-hypersonic-missiles-strike-ukraine-2021-12-09/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62026216 [3] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/09/world/europe/russia-ukraine-hypersonic-missiles.html [4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russia-ukraine-hypersonic-missiles/2021/12/09/040886b0-3884-11ec-91e6-61d999e5894d_story.html [5] https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/01/politics/biden-russia-hypersonic-missiles/index.html [6] https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/01/biden-says-russia-has-used-hypersonic-missiles-against-ukraine-00026600 [7] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/01/russia-official-questions-practicality-of-using-hypersonic-missiles-in-ukraine.html [8] https://www.crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46806
- The use of hypersonic missiles in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has raised concerns in the realm of general-news, as it showcases a technological advancement in war-and-conflicts that can potentially evade current missile defense systems.
- The business world is closely monitoring this development, as NATO and Western powers deliberate on the strategic implications of Russia increasing its arsenal with hypersonic weapons, potentially impacting the balance of power in Europe.
- In the domain of politics, discussions are underway regarding the reasons behind Russia's use of hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, with speculations suggesting that it could be a move to gain leverage at the negotiating table.
- The entertainment industry has begun to reflect this global tension in their work, with several new movies and series focusing on the impact of technology in warfare, using the hypersonic missile story as a central plotline in historical as well as futuristic settings.
