Russia threatens to strike U.S. air bases in Poland with "advanced weapons" amid escalating conflict in Ukraine
By richardbrown // 2024-11-27
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Russia has issued a stark warning to the United States, threatening to target its air bases in Poland with "advanced weapons." Moscow's threat was in response to the opening of a new U.S. ballistic missile defense base in Redzikowo, located near the Baltic coast. The facility, which opened on Nov. 13, is part of the "Aegis Ashore" missile defense system of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which is designed to help intercept short- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned this base, stating it would "increase the overall level of nuclear danger" and adding that it had been placed on a list of potential Russian targets. Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, criticized the opening of the base, describing it as "provocative" and part of a broader series of destabilizing actions by the U.S. and its allies. She emphasized that the Redzikowo base would now be considered a priority target for Russia, stating that it could be destroyed using "a wide range of advanced weapons." This threat came shortly after Ukraine's air force reported the launch of a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the southern Russian region of Astrakhan, near the Caspian Sea. Russian authorities have not confirmed the missile launch, but if true, it would mark the first time such a powerful missile has been deployed in the conflict. (Related: U.S. bracing for Russia’s retaliatory attack by shutting down embassy in Kyiv.) However, some analysts have expressed doubt about the missile being a true ICBM, as its reported range of 700 kilometers (435 miles) falls short of the expected range for intercontinental missiles, which typically exceed 5,000 kilometers (3,107 miles). This discrepancy has led some experts to speculate that the missile may not have been a full-fledged ICBM, though others believe it could have been used as a signal of Russia's missile capabilities rather than for practical military purposes.

Russian threat a response to West's escalatory actions

The reported launch follows a series of escalatory actions, including Ukraine for the first time being allowed to use U.S.-supplied ATACMS and British Storm Shadow long-range missiles to strike targets deep inside internationally recognized Russian territory. Moscow had warned that such actions would lead to a significant response, and the recent missile launch threats suggest that Russia may be preparing to retaliate in kind. One possible missile used in the recent launch could be Russia's RS-26 "Frontier," a nuclear-capable missile with a range of up to 5,800 kilometers (3,604 miles). Although the RS-26 has never been used in combat, its potential use would demonstrate Russia's ability to strike Ukraine with long-range, advanced weaponry. Experts believe that while such an attack would be costly, it would serve to show how far Russia could go if it chose to dramatically escalate the war. Meanwhile, Russia's ongoing bombardment of Ukraine continues, with strikes on critical infrastructure and industrial sites leading to power outages in regions like Kyiv, Odesa and Sumy. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted several incoming missiles, including Kh-101 cruise missiles, but Russia's missile strikes remain a significant challenge to Ukraine’s ability to protect its airspace. The use of Tu-95MS strategic bombers and MiG-31K fighters to launch these attacks demonstrates Russia’s intent to cripple Ukraine's power grid as the harsh winter sets in. In response to Zakharova's statements on the Redzikowo base, Poland's foreign ministry reiterated that the facility is purely defensive and does not house nuclear weapons. The spokesperson emphasized that such threats from Russia would only strengthen Poland's commitment to reinforcing its air defense capabilities, as well as NATO's overall defense posture in Eastern Europe. These developments come at a time of heightened tensions, as Russia's rhetoric and actions signal a significant increase in hostilities. Just a day before these missile threats, Ukraine launched Storm Shadow missiles at military targets in Russia's Kursk region, further escalating the conflict. Watch this video from "Borzzikman" discussing how Russia is preparing to target U.S. and NATO bases in Europe with hypersonic ballistic missiles. This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

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