WASHINGTON — The Pentagon indicated Wednesday that Russia may soon deploy its new intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine, as both nations continue to vie for a strategic edge in the protracted war now nearing its three-year mark.

Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon spokesperson, remarked during a press briefing that an attack could potentially occur “in the coming days.” While the U.S. does not see this specific missile, known as the Oreshnik, as a decisive factor on the battlefield, she mentioned that Russia is “attempting to deploy every weapon available to intimidate Ukraine.”
According to Singh, the U.S. has based its assessment on newly acquired intelligence, though she could not divulge specifics regarding potential targets.
U.S. officials shared that preparations for another missile launch have been observed, following the missile’s debut in combat last month. Officials chose to remain anonymous given the sensitive nature of the information.
This warning emerges amidst political maneuverings, including pledges from President-elect Donald Trump to conclude the conflict, while Western allies suggest that winter could be the time for initiating negotiations.
Singh reiterated the U.S. commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s defenses, revealing plans to supply additional air defense systems aimed at safeguarding the nation from air strikes. The U.S. recently announced it would deliver nearly $1 billion in security assistance, including air defense munitions.
On the Russian side, the Defense Ministry indicated readiness to retaliate after Ukraine reportedly deployed six U.S.-made ATACMS missiles against a military air base in Taganrog, inflicting injuries upon soldiers. The ministry noted that two missiles were intercepted by air defenses, while four others were neutralized through electronic warfare tactics.
“This assault using Western long-range armaments will not go unanswered, and appropriate measures will be enacted,” the Russian Defense Ministry stated.
This is not the first occasion U.S. officials have cautioned about possible Russian military actions; such warnings have sometimes served as diplomatic signals to Moscow aimed at influencing its decisions.
Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, U.S. intelligence shared details of Russian troop mobilizations toward Kyiv. Additional intelligence later indicated Moscow was preparing to orchestrate “false-flag operations” in eastern Ukraine to provide a justification for invasion.
U.S. sources claim that Russia possesses only a limited number of the Oreshnik missiles, which carry a smaller payload compared to other missile types routinely used in attacks against Ukraine.
The missile was first deployed in a strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on November 21. Footage captured during the event depicted dramatic fireballs erupting as the missiles struck with great velocity. This marked the missile’s initial utilization in combat.
In an unusual move, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared on national television shortly after the attack, promoting the hypersonic capabilities of the missile. He issued a warning to Western nations that future strikes could target Ukraine’s NATO allies, who have enabled Kyiv to utilize longer-range weaponry against Russian territories.
This incident followed closely after Putin revised Russia’s nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for nuclear weapon deployment and stating that a conventional attack on Russia supported by a nuclear state could elicit a nuclear response from Moscow.
The missile strikes coincided with President Biden’s decision to ease restrictions on Ukraine’s use of American longer-range arms, while just a day earlier the U.S. committed to providing antipersonnel mines to help Ukraine impede Russian advances.
“We maintain our right to use our weaponry against military installations in nations that facilitate strikes against our facilities,” Putin asserted during this period.
He further warned that the new missile might be utilized against strategic locations in Ukraine, including government zones in Kyiv. Last month, he mentioned that the Russian military’s General Staff was evaluating potential future targets, including military sites and defense facilities in the Ukrainian capital.
Putin also announced plans to ensure that civilians and nationals from allied countries leave areas deemed dangerous prior to targets being struck.
He praised the Oreshnik missile’s advanced capabilities, stating that its multiple warheads, which can plunge at speeds up to Mach 10, evade interception and could deliver a blow equivalent to a nuclear strike if several were deployed together.
In recent remarks, Putin argued that the presence of sufficient advanced weaponry may render the use of nuclear weapons almost unnecessary.
The Pentagon clarified that the Oreshnik is categorized as an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), derived from Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), and emphasized that it does not possess a hypersonic glide vehicle, which is essential for hypersonic classification.
IRBMs can travel distances ranging from 500 to 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,400 miles), and such weaponry was previously banned under a treaty that the U.S. and Russia abandoned in 2019.
As fighting intensifies in this drawn-out war, both Russia and Ukraine are striving for leverage ahead of any potential negotiations. Trump’s upcoming inauguration has raised uncertainties regarding the ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine.
Trump has recently called for an immediate ceasefire, suggesting that Ukraine may need to brace for diminished U.S. military aid. He stated on social media that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “would like to make a deal and stop the madness.”
Meanwhile, the Biden administration announced a substantial $988 million aid package recently, complementing a prior commitment of $725 million in military support that includes counter-drone systems and HIMARS munitions. Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the U.S. has delivered over $62 billion in military assistance to Ukraine.