Vladimir Putin's top military commander reportedly informed U.S. officials that a hypersonic missile launch targeting Ukraine had been planned long before the Biden administration permitted Kyiv to use long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) within Russian territory. This account, reported by The New York Times, contrasts with Putin's statements, which seemed to link the November 21 launch of the Oreshnik missile at Dnipro to the U.S. decision made days earlier.
General Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s Chief of the General Staff, outlined the context of the missile launch during a November 27 call with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown, according to the report. U.S. officials cited by the NYT indicated Gerasimov stated that the missile launch had been planned "long before" President Biden authorized Ukraine's use of ATACMS. Although the Oreshnik missile carried only conventional warheads, its launch was interpreted as a warning of Moscow's readiness to escalate, potentially with nuclear weapons.
Following the launch, Putin emphasized that Russia was developing intermediate- and shorter-range missiles as a response to U.S. plans to deploy similar weapons in Europe and the Asia-Pacific. The timing of the strike coincided with Putin formalizing adjustments to Russia's nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for using atomic weapons, which further heightened global tensions.
Capt. Jereal Dorsey, spokesperson for General Brown, confirmed to the NYT that the call had been initiated at Gerasimov's request, who asked the U.S. not to publicize the communication proactively. While Dorsey's statement did not specifically reference the Oreshnik launch, it acknowledged discussions on "global and regional security issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine."
An ABC News report provided additional context, revealing that Gerasimov had also warned Brown about Russia's plans to test hypersonic missile launches in the Mediterranean Sea.
According to an unnamed U.S. official, Gerasimov cautioned U.S. Navy ships to avoid the target area and discussed measures to prevent miscalculation between the two nations amidst the Ukraine conflict.
The hypersonic missile tests Gerasimov referred to reportedly occurred this week in the eastern Mediterranean. Russia's Defense Ministry stated that its frigates Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Golovko fired Zircon hypersonic missiles, while the submarine Novorossiysk launched a Kalibr cruise missile, and an Onyx missile was fired from the Mediterranean coast. The exercises, conducted from December 1 to December 3, involved over 1,000 troops, 10 ships and support vessels, and 24 aircraft.
Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry and the Pentagon for comment.
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