RUSSIAN tyrant Vladimir Putin struck Ukraine with a hypersonic ballistic missile yesterday – a weapon that the US has warned could be made nuclear.
The medium-range “Oreshnik” rocket pierced through Ukrainian defences dropping a cluster-bomb of warheads on the city of Dnipro in an early morning blitz on Thursday.
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It was initially described by Kyiv’s Air Force as the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) – which would have marked the first time a weapon of its kind had been used in war.
But it turned out to be a terrifying new rocket – an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) based on the older Rubezh model – which can travel at 10 times the speed of sound.
Addressing the country, Putin said they had used the attack on Ukraine to test Russia’s “newest missile”, an IRBM called “Oreshnik”.
Both are part of the same family as the original RS-24 Yars ICBM – a ferocious Russian weapon.
A chilling simulation video shows how these weapons would operate – with an RS-24 firing off multiple warheads in the Earth’s atmosphere before they rain down on unsuspecting territory below.
The Pentagon said that while the Oreshnik was fired with conventional warheads – Moscow could still modify the weapon to carry a nuclear payload.
“It could be refitted to certainly carry different types of conventional or nuclear warheads,” spokesperson Sabrina Singh warned.
She revealed that the move by Russia – using a never-before-fired missile – is being viewed as “experimental” in Washington.
Embattled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday slammed the attack – dubbing it a “clear and severe escalation” by “insane” Russia.
Speaking with sickening pride of his newest weapon during a televised address on Thursday, Putin said it moved at 10 times the speed of sound.
Russian sources said it had a 5,000km range, meaning it could reach most of Europe and even the West Coast of the US if wanted.
Anatoly Matviychuk, a Russian military expert, said it could carry six to eight conventional or nuclear warheads.
The Times of Ukraine channel said an Oreshnik could hit Britain in 20 minutes and Poland in just 12 following a Russian launch.
Putin threatened yesterday to strike Britain – marking military facilities in the UK as valid targets in response to the use of Western missiles by Ukraine.
The Kremlin later said on their new missile: “Russia has demonstrated its ability to respond to Western actions by using ballistic missiles.”
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Russia’s strike on Dnipro came after Kyiv launched US ATACMS missiles against Putin’s territory overnight on Monday – and British Storm Shadow rockets on Wednesday in a double-tap victory.
Chilling video showed rockets raining down on the Ukrainian city – claimed to be six different warheads.
It was reportedly fired from the Kapustin Yar test range in Russia’s Astrakhan region and struck the Yuzhmash defence plant in Dnipro.
The Kremlin also dispatched Tu-95MS strategic bombers to launch cruise missiles against embattled Ukraine.
Nato scrambled F-16 warplanes above Poland amid the barrage – putting air defence and radar systems on high alert.
Meanwhile, a military chief told British MPs on Thursday evening that Britain would be ready to fight “tonight” should Putin strike another country in Europe.
Lieutenant General Rob Magowan told the House of Commons defence committee: “If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight.
“I don’t think anybody in this room should be under any illusion that if the Russians invaded Eastern Europe tonight, then we would meet them in that fight.”
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