Russia warns USA before missile launch at Ukraine, experts weigh in
Russia issued a warning to the USA before firing an "Oreshnik" missile at Ukraine. "The mutual warnings between Russia and the USA prior to launching a nuclear missile stem from the insights 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" toward Ukraine, the Russian Federation sent an automatic notification via the Nuclear Risk Reduction Center to the United States. The White House confirmed this 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, or approximately 6,600 mph.
He added that the new missile was used to target Ukrainian arms factories in Dnipro, which "produce missiles and other types of weaponry." 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 recognized. They promptly receive a signal at 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," says Prof. Piotr Grochmalski to WP. He emphasizes that thanks to this, Washington and Moscow monitor each other.
"One step from nuclear war"
"Today, this is a super red line, drawn back during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. It was then just one step away from nuclear war. Lessons were learned from those events, and both sides realized the need for signaling and notification. The Americans receive signals and exchange information through the Nuclear Risk Reduction Center. They also have an extensive satellite system that accurately supervises strategic nuclear weapons," comments Prof. Grochmalski.
In his opinion, Americans already knew that the Russians were preparing to send a likely RS26 Rubież missile toward Ukraine. "They have a few units, and the Kremlin has already abandoned this program. It seems that the 'Oresznik,' 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 awareness gained from hundreds of previous simulations, which always end the same way.
"End of civilization"
"Namely, there is no winning a nuclear war. Years ago, Ronald Reagan ordered major strategic exercises to test many scenarios. They always ended the same way, for the USA, Russia, and also China. These games mean one thing: the end of civilization. Maybe not humanity, because some people will always survive," says the lecturer at the Academy of War Art.
And as he adds, 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 neighboring 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.
