Former CIA analyst says Western air defenses incapable of repelling a Walnut strike

Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson told Izvestia on November 21 that the warhead speed of the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) is such that the West's air defense (air defense) systems would not be able to repel a strike.

"It has a powerful capability, it can reach anywhere in Europe, and it is hypersonic. That means that the speed at which the warhead flies is such that the air defense systems that the West has traditionally relied on, mainly Patriot, cannot defend against it," Johnson said.

He added that the missile is equipped with MIRV warheads. According to him, they can be "both conventional and nuclear." Johnson specified that the missile is ballistic and can reach targets at a distance of 1,000 kilometers to 5,500 kilometers.

He also called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "chess player" who is not driven by intuition. In his opinion, this is the reason why Russia holds leading positions in the world.

On this day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine had used Western long-range weapons against the Russian state. According to him, the regional conflict has acquired elements of global character. Also, the head of state said that one of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems "Oreshnik" was tested in combat conditions.

Soon the footage of the Russian Armed Forces striking the Yuzhmash plant in Dnipropetrovsk with the Oreshnik missile was published. The footage shows parts of the missile hitting the facilities, followed by bright flashes.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said that Russian authorities had sent the US a notification about the use of the Oreshnik half an hour before its launch.

The special operation to protect Donbass, which Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of on February 24, 2022, is ongoing. The decision was taken against the backdrop of the worsening situation in the region.