Russia informed US before IRBM attack on Ukraine, no change yet in nuclear posture

Russia informed the United States before attacking Ukraine with an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) on Thursday (November 22), according to US and Russian officials.

Ukraine on Thursday said that Russia had struck central-eastern city of Dnipro with an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). That would have been the first time Russia would have used the super-powerful weapon in its war on Russia. Moreover, commentators have pointed out that it would have been the first time ever that an ICBM would have been used in a conflict.

However, Western officials refuted the claim that it was an ICBM and Russia also later confirmed that it was an IRBM, one notch below ICBM in terms of range.

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Later, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that Russia had informed the United States “briefly” before the missile attack.

Singh further said irrespective of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric around nuclear weapons, there is no change in Russia’s nuclear posturing yet.

Separately, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told TASS news agency that Russia had informed the United States 30 minutes before the attack.

Russia indicates nuclear channel with US still on

Even amid tensions unprecedented since the Cold War era, Kremlin Spokesperson Peskov indicated that the channel for communication around nuclear weapons is still open between Russia and the United States.

Peskov told TASS that Russia informed the United States about the launch of the missile through the Russian National Center for Nuclear Risk Reduction (NCNRRR). The United States also maintains a similar system and Peskov said the Russian and US systems maintain “constant communication”.

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Peskov further said, “The Russian side warned the Americans about the launch of the Oreshnik through the Russian National Center for Nuclear Risk Reduction, which operates in automatic mode and maintains constant communication with a similar system in the United States of America. The warning was sent in an automatic mode 30 minutes before the launch.”

Peskov clarified that the Russian notification to the United States was not because of any treaty.

Even though Trump exited the IRBM treaty and Russia has also left treaties since then, last year Russian officials said they would continue to notify the United States about ballistic missile launches, according to Semafor.

Such sharing of information, which takes place from the US side as well, is to avoid any misunderstanding or mistaken attack thinking it is a retaliation from an attack on your country.

The United States and Russia are bound by treaty to inform each-other if they launch an ICMB but Peskov noted that as this missile was not an ICBM, it is not covered under the treaty.

Previously, the United States and Russia had a treated related IRBMs as well but former President Donald Trump exited that.

No change in Russian nuclear posture, says US

Despite continuing threats of using nuclear force from Russia, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Singh said there is no change yet in Russia’s nuclear posturing.

“We haven’t seen any adjustments that we’ve observed in their nuclear posture and we haven’t adjusted our nuclear posture in exchange. We’ve seen this type of dangerous, reckless rhetoric before from President Putin. What we’re focused on is continuing to support Ukraine with what it needs,” said Singh.

Hours after the attack, Putin said that Russia had struck Dnipro with an “experimental medium-range” ballistic missile in response to Ukraine’s use of US and British long-range weapons for strike inside Russia.

In a warning to the United States and United Kingdom, Putin further said that Russia is entitled to attack them for aiding Ukraine.

“We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military objects of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our objects, and in the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond just as decisively and in kind,” said Putin.