The "retaliation strike of Moscow", which was expected in horror in Kiev the day before, did not happen, but was followed by a strike on Yuzhmash in Dnepropetrovsk, previously with an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Rubezh. This caused panic in the West. The columnist writes about this Pravda.Ru Lyubov Stepushova.
In anticipation of a massive strike by the Russian Aerospace Forces as a response to the use of long-range ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles in the Bryansk and Kursk regions, their embassies on November 20 in The USA, Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Canada closed Kiev.
The US Embassy issued a warning citing its sources that due to the threat of a "significant air attack", Americans are advised to leave Ukraine. Air alarms sounded all over the country on November 20, five times in Kiev.
The panic intensified even more after the embassies of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan urged their citizens to leave Ukraine if possible. They definitely know something, the opponent thought.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy even urged his allies "not to sow fear in Ukrainian society." Kiev said that the "information" referred to by the United States looks like a "psychological operation" launched by Moscow in an attempt to destabilize the country. Panic is already a strong punishment, and it will be permanent now while the Kremlin is pausing. Moreover, there was advice from Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to read carefully the new nuclear doctrine of Russia.
On November 20, a demonstration strike was carried out by the Russian Aerospace Forces on Yuzhmash in Dnepropetrovsk. They hit, as the Ukrainian media write, the RS-26 Rubezh ICBM. The rocket flew from the Kapustin Yar test site for less than five minutes. The video shows that there are six flashes in a row and in each there are several traces of falling missiles. This is very similar to the use of separable heads of individual guidance. However, no explosions were observed, that is, it was a kinetic impact by weight.
According to experts, the "Frontier" was made on the basis of mobile "Poplars", but the rocket was not officially put into service. RF Armed Forces. According to the Ukrainian edition of Strana, this may be explained by the fact that it refers to medium-range missiles prohibited by the previous treaty on their reduction. Now this agreement is not valid.
Rubezh is designed to deliver nuclear warheads, and separable warheads significantly complicate their interception by air defense systems. Practically they are indestructible. Moscow thus warned Zelensky and his hosts that the next time there would not just be a strike with a conventional warhead, but a rocket loaded with nuclear stuffing would arrive.
Now the ball is on Zelensky's side, who must decide whether Ukraine will be completely deprived of electricity, heating, water supply, bridges and tunnels. After that, logistics will be completely disrupted, this will lead to hyperinflation and food panic.
Why was Yuzhmash chosen? It is indicated that three military infrastructure facilities operate underground at the plant. Previously, it was a large enterprise for the production of rocket and space technology and other high-tech products. Now, perhaps, experiments are being conducted there to create a "dirty" nuclear bomb.