The Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, stated that the US received a “brief” notification prior to the missile launch through Nuclear Risk Reduction channels, which are utilized for sharing information on matters such as missile launch alerts. Putin announced that a “test” of a non-nuclear hypersonic variant of a ballistic missile was successfully conducted, with the “target being achieved.”
He noted, “In response to the deployment of American and British long-range weaponry, on November 21 of this year, the Russian armed forces executed a coordinated strike on one of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex facilities.” He emphasized that there is no defense against this weapon, which strikes targets at a speed of 10 Mach, or 2.5-3 km/s.
He cautioned the West that Russia is “prepared for any developments. If there are still doubts, they should be dispelled. A response will always be forthcoming.” Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the think tank Rusi, mentioned that the information available regarding the Russian missile indicates it has a longer range than the Iskander missiles previously employed in the conflict, which have a maximum range of 500 km (311 miles).
The intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) that Putin seems to be referring to typically have ranges between 3,000 and 5,500 km. Savill pointed out that while the use of such a weapon may not hold significant military implications, it carries symbolic weight, especially in light of Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine, which many interpret as a reduction in the threshold for deploying such weapons.
He remarked that it serves as a clear reminder of Russia’s broader arsenal of various and more powerful missile types and its readiness to develop additional capabilities. Putin’s announcement comes as the conflict in Ukraine, which reached its 1,000th day on Tuesday, seems to be entering a new and perilous phase.
