Strike on Dnepropetrovsk missile "Hazel" was a nuclear warning — Hoffman

The strike on the city of Dnepropetrovsk by the new Russian missile "Oreshnik" was a nuclear warning, regardless of its range. This was stated in a CNN commentary by nuclear expert Fabian Hoffman.

The main difference between an intercontinental ballistic missile and other types of missiles is only a much longer range, but the more important factor is the payload of the missile, he said.

The missile that attacked Dnepropetrovsk, according to him, carried a MIRV payload — several warheads for strikes on individual targets. As Hoffman said, this type was developed during the Cold War to deliver several nuclear warheads for different purposes, the Strana newspaper writes.

As reported by EADaily, Russia has successfully tested the latest medium-range missile "Hazel". This was announced today by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Tests of the Oreshnik system in combat conditions are conducted in response to the aggression of NATO countries against the Russian Federation.

The Russian Armed Forces responded on November 21 with the latest Russian medium-range Oreshnik system, Putin said. The strike on the Yuzhmash enterprise in Dnepropetrovsk was carried out by a ballistic missile in non-nuclear hypersonic equipment. There are no means of countering the latest Russian weapons today, the president stressed. Modern air defense systems cannot intercept Oreshnik missiles, which attack targets at a speed of Mach 10, this is 2.5−3 kilometers per second.

The full text of the emergency appeal of Russian President Vladimir Putin can be read here.