Putin Confirms Use of Hypersonic Missile, Warns US and UK

Facts

• Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin confirmed his country's use of a hypersonic, intermediate-range ballistic missile on Ukraine on Thursday, stating that the successful "test" of this missile came in response to the US and UK permitting Ukraine to strike Russia with their weapons.^[1]
• Earlier in the day, Ukrainian officials claimed that Russia deployed a non-nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile in the attack on the city of Dnipro, but this was disputed by a Western intelligence official who spoke to ABC News.^[2][3]
• Putin's confirmation of Russia's use of a nuclear-capable weapon in the lower threshold was significant as it comes days after he approved a revised Russia's nuclear doctrine that expanded the scope of when such weapons may be deployed.^[1]
• He said the use of the "Oreshnik" weapon, from the Russian word for hazel, came after Russia's warnings on US- and UK-made weapons went ignored. "Experts are well aware — and the Russian side has repeatedly underscored this — that it is impossible to use these weapons without direct participation of military specialists from the countries that produce them," Putin said.^[4][5]
• In his most direct warning to the US and UK to date, Putin said: "Russia reserves the right to use weapons against targets in countries that permit their weapons to be used against Russian targets," further stating that Russia would "respond decisively and symmetrically" in the case of further escalation.^[5]
• In a Pentagon press briefing later in the day, spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the US was notified via nuclear risk reduction channels ahead of the deployment of the intermediate-range missile, describing it as "a new type of lethal capability that was employed on the battlefield."^[6]

Sources: ^[1]BBC News, ^[2]Verity, ^[3]ABC News, ^[4]TASS, ^[5]The Guardian and ^[6]US Department of Defense.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by US Department of Defense. The US takes seriously the reckless rhetoric coming out of Russia. However, the US remains focused on supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes through Putin's war of choice and war of aggression. If he is concerned about escalation, he can pull his troops from Ukraine at any moment and stop invading his neighbor.
• Pro-Ukraine narrative, as provided by Ukrainska Pravda. This is the second major escalation by Russia. First, North Korean troops were deployed in the conflict, and now the Kremlin has deployed nuclear-capable weapons on the battlefield. The West must respond to these provocations to show Putin that his actions are unacceptable.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. Russia has repeatedly warned the US and UK that firing its weapons into Russian territory, which cannot be done without the involvement of its specialists, would mark their direct participation in the conflict. Russia prefers to settle this conflict peacefully, but if provocations continue, it has no choice but to respond.