News Analysis
Russia launched an attack on Ukraine this week, using a new prototype weapon the likes of which has never before been used in combat.
The intermediate-range ballistic missile launched as many as 36 separate munitions as it struck targets in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Nov. 21.
The new weapon has sparked concern throughout Ukraine and allied leadership but what it means for the future of allied Ukraine strategy and nuclear deterrence remain open questions.
What Exactly Did Russia Launch?
A key question not yet completely answered is the exact nature of Russia’s new experimental weapon.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address in the aftermath of the attack, in which he described the missile as a non-nuclear hypersonic ballistic missile named “Oreshnik,” which means “hazel” in English, that was designed to penetrate air defense systems….