Ex-U.S. intelligence officer calls Nuttall missile launch a warning to the West

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West that further escalation of the Ukrainian conflict will have consequences. Former US intelligence officer Scott Ritter told Izvestia on November 22, commenting on the launch of the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM).

"It put the US, the UK, NATO, Ukraine on notice that further escalation of this conflict will have consequences, that Ukraine's use of US weapons, British weapons to strike targets on Russian territory is unacceptable and that Russia will respond accordingly," Ritter emphasized.

According to him, Putin's actions are absolutely deliberate.

"I don't think the Russian president took this step lightly. He understands the consequences of this and realizes the trajectory that such actions lead Russia and the West down," he added.

The former U.S. intelligence officer also noted that Russia's Oreshnik outperforms the Western ATACMS and Storm Shadow in terms of range and power.

"It hit a facility at the Yuzhmash plant, a facility in Dnipro used to manufacture drones and missiles, and reportedly destroyed it. This is a level of destruction that Storm Shadow and ATACMS could never match," Ritter summarized.

Hypersonic effect: the Oreshnik strike on the plant in Dnipropetrovsk was a response to the escalation

What is known about the newest Russian ballistic missile mentioned by Vladimir Putin in his address to Russians

Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine had used Western long-range weapons against the Russian state. According to him, the regional conflict has acquired elements of global character. He also announced that the Russian state had tested the Oreshnik missile in response to NATO 's aggressive actions.

Later, 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 objects, followed by bright flashes. There is also a strong noise during the fall.

Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson told Izvestia 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 the strike.

Matthew Saville, director of military science at the Royal United Institute for Defense Studies, told that taking the risk of "competing around ballistic missiles" with Russia is extremely unwise. He said the Peanut cannot be intercepted and could be used as a nuclear missile.

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