Did Russia's nuclear missile early warning system suffer a strike?
There's a Russian radar, known as Voronezh-DM, responsible for detecting incoming nuclear missiles from 6000 kilometers away. It's said to have been damaged in a drone attack by Ukraine. A Norwegian military analyst cautions about the repercussions.
Unconfirmed sources state that a radar crucial to the Russian early warning system against atomic missiles has sustained damage in a Ukrainian drone attack. Photos of the damaged equipment emerged on both Russian and Ukrainian media outlets, as per the US Institute for the Study of War's (ISW) recent situation report.
Dmitry Rogozin, the prior Russian ambassador to NATO, has weighed in from Moscow. On social media, he expressed concern over damage to the early warning system, calling it "a critical component of the military oversight of Russia's strategic nuclear forces." Rogozin, currently a member of the Russian Federation Council, alleges that the US organized or at least had knowledge of the attack. He predicts such occurrences would draw the world dangerously close to the brink of nuclear war. Neither the Kremlin nor the Russian Ministry of Defense have responded to these claims.
Reports indicate the strike happened on Thursday night, coinciding with Ukraine's launch of missiles at a Russian army communications hub on Crimea's Alushta. The Voronezh-DM radar near Armavir is believed to be capable of spotting approaching nuclear warheads at a distance of 6000 kilometers. This network of radars safeguards the skies above Crimea and southwestern Europe, extending to the Atlantic.
The alleged drone attack appears to have been conducted by Ukraine. This takes place amid discussions between Ukraine and its Western allies about using their weapons against Russian targets. Warning against such moves in tense international situations, independent Norwegian military expert Thord Are Iversen wrote on social media, "There are numerous targets in Russia that could be attacked with drones. However, there are a handful of targets you steer clear of, and this is one of them."
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In response to the alleged drone attack, Russian diplomat Dmitry Rogozin claims that the United States may have been involved or at least aware of the incident, potentially escalating tensions further. The damaged radar system, essential for Russia's early warning of incoming nuclear missiles, is a critical component of their strategic nuclear forces oversight.
Source: www.ntv.de
