Russia warns us as new missile test intensifies nuclear tension
Russia issued a warning to the USA before launching an "Oreshnik" missile at Ukraine. "These mutual warnings between Russia and the USA before launching a nuclear missile arise from the understanding gained from hundreds of previous simulations, which always end the same way," says Polish Prof. Piotr Grochmalski, director of the Institute of Strategic Studies at the Academy of War Art, to Wirtualna Polska.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed that 30 minutes before launching the medium-range ballistic missile "Oreshnik" towards Ukraine, the Russian Federation sent an automatic notification via the Nuclear Risk Reduction Centre to the United States. The White House confirmed the information.
"We briefed Ukraine and our close allies, partners in recent days to help them prepare," said White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre to reporters during a briefing.
Earlier, Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced a successful test of a new missile called "Oreshnik" by engineers. According to Putin, there is currently no way to counteract such a weapon. The missile travels at a speed of 10 Machs, which is approximately 10,600 km/h (6600 mph).
He added that the new missile was used to strike Ukrainian arms factories in Dnipro, which "produce missiles and other types of weaponry." He noted that this was a response to Ukraine's use of American and British long-range weaponry.
"Americans can immediately detect the launch of a missile; all locations are monitored and recognised. They immediately receive a signal to the North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado. But aside from the American rapid response system, a nuclear risk reduction system has existed in relations with Russia for many years. It was introduced by Ronald Reagan with the participation of Mikhail Gorbachev," explains Prof. Piotr Grochmalski to WP. He emphasises that Washington and Moscow monitor each other thanks to this system.
"One step from nuclear war"
"Today, this is a super red line, drawn back during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. It was then just one step away from nuclear war. Lessons were learned from those events, and both sides realised the need for signalling and notification. The Americans receive signals and exchange information through the Nuclear Risk Reduction Centre. They also have a very extensive satellite system that supervises strategic nuclear weapons very accurately," comments Prof. Grochmalski.
In his opinion, Americans already knew that the Russians were preparing to send a likely RS26 Rubież missile towards Ukraine. "They have a few units, and the Kremlin has already abandoned this programme. It seems that the 'Oreshnik,' directed at Dnipro, was developed based on the Rubezh" assesses the WP interlocutor.
According to Prof. Piotr Grochmalski, the mutual warnings between Russia and the USA result from the understanding gained from hundreds of previous simulations, which always end the same way.
"End of civilisation"
"Namely, there is no winning war. Years ago, Ronald Reagan ordered major strategic exercises to test many scenarios. They always ended the same way, both on the side of the USA, Russia, and also China. These games mean one thing: the end of civilisation. Maybe not humanity, because some people will always survive," says the lecturer at the Academy of War Art.
He adds that, as a result, if both sides know there are no winners in a nuclear war, they warn each other.
"Let's suppose Iran, which does not yet have an atomic bomb but is working hard on it, launches such a missile; the USA and Russia must notify each other. Because it does not only strike the country that is the target of the attack but also neighbouring countries. Consequently, millions of people will die. This could be the case in a nuclear war between North Korea and the USA. If it happens, the border region of China will also fall victim," concludes the expert.
