Russia is using its hypersonic missile to send a political message. How dangerous is the Oreshnik?
CBC
Russia didn’t just use a hypersonic missile to target a site in western Ukraine near the border with Poland, in the European Union, but high ranking officials then went on to boast about the power of the nuclear-capable weapon, in what some saw as a clear warning to the West.
Ukraine’s air force said the missile, which can be equipped with six warheads each carrying their own submunitions, travelled at a speed of 13,000 kilometers an hour, but didn’t disclose details about what exactly was hit.
It was the second time that Russia has used the Oreshnik against Ukraine, a hypersonic missile that is impossible for the country to intercept.
But Moscow’s choice to use it, along with its barrage of other deadly weapons including ballistic missiles and drones, appears to be more about political messaging than military strategy.
In a post on the social media platform Telegram, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as the deputy chairman of the country’s security council, compared the Oreshnik strike to an anti-psychotic drug that was badly needed in a world dominated by “unhinged actors” and “dangerous psychotics.”
In the same post he railed against what he called the “abduction” of Venezuela leader Nicolás Maduro and the seizing of a Russian flagged shadow fleet tanker.
The leaders of the U.K., France and Germany condemned Russia's use of the missile and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney called it a clear and dangerous escalation.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called it a warning to the U.S. and Europe.
But on the streets of Kyiv, many residents see it as simply another deadly Russian weapon. On Friday morning crews were busy cleaning up the debris after separate strikes that killed four people, including a paramedic.
Resident Oleksandr Poliak, 30, says the more immediate concern for him is the hundreds of Shahed drones that are routinely unleashed on the capital.
“It is more important to think about this type of weapon, than Oreshnik. Oreshnik is more like a propaganda weapon," Poliak said in an interview with a freelance crew working for CBC News.
“Russia fires this type of weapon every time they are not satisfied with some … negotiations.”
Russia said it launched the Oreshnik missile Thursday night at a state enterprise in Ukraine as retribution for what it called an unsuccessful drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence last month.
Ukraine calls those allegations an “absurd lie” and the United States says the attack didn’t happen.
