Yesterday, the Kyiv Independent published remarks of six Western “experts” trying to explain why the new hypersonic missile strike in Dnipropetrovsk was a non-event. Their article, “Don’t Overreact—Oreshnik Missile Isn’t as New as Russia Claims, Experts Say,” may not stand up under fire.
First, Fabian Hoffman, doctoral research fellow at University of Oslo, offered: “I’d be extremely shocked if this missile system had more than 10% new parts. I think basically they just took apart the RS-26 or just cannibalized it, and then put together this new missile with a couple of upgrades, and a new paint job. I think it’s really important that we don’t overreact.”
NATO spokeswoman Farah Dakhlallah asserted: “Deploying this capability will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine.”
An anonymous U.S. official said that while “we take all threats against Ukraine seriously, it is important to keep a few key facts in mind. Ukraine has withstood countless attacks from Russia, including from missiles with significantly larger warheads than this weapon. Let me be clear: Russia may be seeking to use this capability to try to intimidate Ukraine and its supporters, or generate attention in the information space, but it will not be a game changer in this conflict.”
