Missile Deployment and International Response
A U.S. intelligence assessment suggests might use the experimental Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile against again, viewing it as an intimidation tool rather than a significant battlefield enhance.
The missile, first used in a Nov. 21 attack on , is based on Russia's RS-26 Rubezh ICBM and can travel between 500 to 5,500 kilometers, a range previously restricted under a treaty abandoned in 2019.
Political Dynamics and Aid to Ukraine
Amidst the missile threat, President-elect calls for an immediate ceasefire, suggesting a potential shift in U.S. support for Ukraine post-inauguration. Meanwhile, the administration has pledged close to $2 billion in new security aid to Ukraine.
The experimental missile's deployment follows Russia's revised nuclear doctrine and comes after President Joe Biden loosened restrictions on Ukraine's use of U.S. weapons, escalating the war's intensity as both sides seek negotiation leverage.