“This missile introduces a different level to warfare”, as it “is not interceptable” by Ukraine’s air defense systems. There are US systems that can stop these missiles but the quantity available is not much
It has a range of 5,000 to 6,000 km and was developed to carry nuclear warheads. “This is the first time that Russia is using a medium-range intercontinental ballistic missile against Ukraine”, says Major General Isidro de Morais Pereira, who says it is “surprising” that Russian forces used an intercontinental missile designed in time of the Soviet Union “to carry nuclear warheads” and which has now been used to launch conventional warheads.
Thus, there are two hypotheses, the major general theorizes: “Either Russia is short of missiles [convencionais] and you have a lot of these and you’re looking to ship them out or you’re upping the ante on the threat.”
In any case, observes Lieutenant General Marco Serronha, “this missile introduces a different level in the war in Ukraine”, since it “is not interceptable” by the air defense systems that Ukraine has, namely the Patriot systems, supplied by the USA. According to the expert, this missile is only interceptable by “anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic missile systems that the US has but in small quantities”. In October, the Americans sent one of the eight anti-missile defense systems it currently has to Israel.
“It is a powerful missile, which carries a 1,500kg TNT warhead and has a very large destructive capacity, even carrying conventional warheads”, highlights Major General Isidro de Morais Pereira, speaking to CNN Portugal.
Image of a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile carried out by the USA
Information, for now, is still scarce. News of the attack was reported by Ukrainian sources and has not been confirmed by Russia or other independent sources. It is known that from the moment it is launched from Earth, “it rises very high, leaves the atmosphere, reaches speeds of over 20,000 km/h, and then, when it re-enters the atmosphere, it slows down again and reaches the its objective”, explains Isidro de Morais Pereira.
According to the governor of Dnipro, Serhii Lysak, the attack caused two fires in the city and damaged the facilities of a local company, thus assuming that “the objective was to target technological companies” in the region.
Intercontinental ballistic missiles can be short-range, reaching less than 1,000km; medium range, between 3,000 and 5,000km; and long-range, which can reach 9,000km, according to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.
The first intercontinental ballistic missile was launched in 1957 by the then Soviet Union. This is the first time that Russia has launched a missile of this nature against Ukraine.
The attack comes after the US allowed Ukraine to use long-range weapons on Russian soil and the review of Russian nuclear doctrine, which expands the circumstances in which Putin can respond with nuclear weapons to enemy attacks carried out even with conventional weapons.
