Jim Himes, a member of the US House of Representatives, addressed the implications of Russia’s deployment of the ‘Oreshnik’ missile, which is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, during a briefing in Kyiv.
“The use of a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead certainly represents a form of escalation. However, the Ukrainians are not only undeterred by this, but the remnants of this missile are now in their possession as well as ours. This will be something that both the Ukrainians and the West will use to understand the capabilities of this missile,” Himes stated.
He further remarked that studying the missile debris would likely have the opposite effect of what Russian President Vladimir Putin intends.
On May 24, reports emerged that Russia had launched an ‘Oreshnik’ missile targeting the region of Bila Tserkva in Kyiv Oblast.
On May 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian intelligence had received information from American and European partners regarding Russia’s preparations for a strike using the ‘Oreshnik’ ballistic missile.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Ukraine indicated that it had received information about a “potentially significant airstrike that could occur at any time within the next 24 hours” in Ukraine.
The ‘Oreshnik’ is identified as a Russian intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that, according to Ukrainian military sources, can reach speeds exceeding 12,300 km/h. The missile is equipped with six warheads, each reportedly containing submunitions. The US Department of Defense has classified the ‘Oreshnik’ as a modification of the RS-26 ‘Rubezh’ intermediate-range missile. Russia has announced plans to commence serial production of the ‘Oreshnik’ missiles starting in 2024.
US Congressman Jim Himes commented on the implications of Russia's use of the 'Oreshnik' missile during a briefing in Kyiv, noting that its deployment signifies escalation. He emphasized that the missile's remnants will aid both Ukrainian and Western understanding of its capabilities.