Russian Spokesperson Told Not To Discuss ICBM Reports Mid-Briefing

[sarisataka]

Russian Spokesperson Told Not To Discuss ICBM Reports Mid-Briefing

Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was interrupted in a press conference by a phone call where she was told not to comment on claims Moscow had launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, it has been reported.

Social media users posted footage of Zakharova addressing reporters Thursday after Kyiv claimed Russia had launched an ICBM—which can carry nuclear payloads—at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

If confirmed, this would be the first-ever use of such a weapon in combat, although unnamed U.S. officials cited by ABC News and CBS have said that it was a ballistic missile rather than an ICBM.

Amid the uncertainty, Zakharova appeared to inadvertently reveal some details about the early morning strike in a hot microphone moment while taking a phone call.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/russian-spokesperson-told-not-to-discuss-icbm-reports-mid-briefing/ar-AA1uv7dA?ocid=BingNewsSerp

The call seems a little staged, but if it was an ICBM with a conventional warhead it is definitely an escalation.

[Happy Hoosier]

1. The launch of an ICBM would cause alarms to blare at NORAD.

I think there is NO chance they launched an ICBM. And what would be the point? Just to frighten people.

Also, it is NOT trivial to swap warheads on an ICBM.

This was a "scare card." Don;t fall for it.

[sarisataka]

3. It is reported elsewhere it was an RS-26 missile

https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1133&pid=45732

While "technically" an ICBM- it can fly 5500km if it is not carrying a warhead, operationally it is an IRBM that can hit much of Europe. Such use would seem to be a response, and unspoken threat, to Ukraine's use of ATCAMs.

[Happy Hoosier]

5. Yup. A scare card. That's it. NT

[Hugin]

2. Oh, okay...

It was a Ballistic Missile and not an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. All the difference in the world*.

* Unless you’re fighting in the grey area of Europe and Asia. Where Intercontinental can be across the street.

[House of Roberts]

4. What is ballistic vs. intercontinental ballistic?

Basically, range. Payload may vary but I wouldn't panic just yet.

Cruise missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while ballistic missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial (boost) phase of flight, after which they follow an arcing trajectory to the target.

Putin may be running out of anything else to shoot with.