A Massive Escalation By Putin: Russia Is Now Slamming Ukraine With ‘Hypersonic Missiles’

In a phone call to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russia’s Foreign Minister-for-life Sergei Lavrov warned that Russia would now be conducting an escalatory program of airstrikes on Ukraine in general and on the capital Kyiv in particular. Lavrov vowed that Moscow would carry out “systematic” attacks on the city to include [destruction of decision-making centers].

The latter is interpreted as meaning all the chief Ukrainian government buildings, including the presidential administration offices of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Neptune Missile. Image Credit: Government of Ukraine.

Ukraine War Map. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Moscow’s rationale is that any target they now so designate in the capital is, in their eyes, being utilized to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is therefore a legitimate target, they declared. The Russian foreign affairs head clearly communicated Russia’s intention for a violent escalation in targeted air strikes throughout the city.

Lavrov also threatened the entirety of the foreign diplomatic corps in Kyiv, instructing them to flee the city before the next round of airstrikes begins. He specifically recommended the US “ensure the evacuation of its diplomatic personnel.”

The EU states and the bloc’s representatives stated they had no intention of leaving. A spokesperson for France’s foreign ministry said Monday: “We’re used to Putin’s threats. It is out of the question to evacuate.”

The day before, on 24 May, Russia launched one of its “Oreshnik” intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the settlement of Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region. This missile was part of a larger attack of 90 missiles and 600 drones that were fired at the Ukrainian capital, as was reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Missile Bluffs and a Diplomatic Shift

Putin has threatened the use of the Oreshnik on several past occasions and has tried to intimidate Ukraine by calling it a “hypersonic weapon.” He has also made numerous references that the missile, while so far only fitted with a conventional munitions load, is also capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

However, experts on missile systems have noted that the Oreshnik is not the wonder weapon Putin purports it to be. The assessment of its design calls it more of a bluff than a new-age weapon, noting that it largely consists of Soviet-era components and technology, including vacuum tubes used in some of its subassemblies.

The missile has also been known for several failures during both its testing phases and when fired against targets. Ukraine’s military reports that on 24 May, two of the missiles were fired, but one of them failed after launch and landed near the Eastern Occupied Ukraine city of Donetsk in the Donbas region rather than on Kyiv.

Foreign policy analysts conclude that Lavrov placed the call to Rubio because the US Secretary of State now appears to want to step in and assert greater control over the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. This would be a shift in the alignment of players that have been involved up to now, and it may signal a turn to a harder line towards Moscow.

After his phone call with Lavrov, Rubio stated: “The US stands ready and prepared to help do whatever we can to help facilitate the end of this war, and hopefully the opportunity will present itself at some point.”

No More Endless Negotiations on the Ukraine War

On Friday, 22 May, Rubio indicated that he also had little faith that the manner in which the negotiations to date between the US and Russia would produce any useful outcome.

The meetings in both Moscow and Miami, with representatives shuttling back and forth between the two cities, have been derided in the European media for lacking any meaningful results as “Steve Witkoff theatre.” This is in reference to the real estate developer and long-time US President Donald Trump business associate, who is the US Special Envoy and has been leading the negotiations thus far.

Speaking to journalists in Sweden, the Secretary of State said there appears to be no one else in the world [besides the US] currently capable of facilitating a settlement between Ukraine and Russia, but “if someone else would like to handle it, they should.”

“So, we’re more than happy to do that if the opportunity presents itself to have constructive and productive talks,” he continued.  But “we’re also not interested in getting involved in an endless cycle of meetings that lead to nothing.”

About the Author: Reuben F. Johnson

Reuben F. Johnson has thirty-six years of experience analyzing and reporting on foreign weapons systems, defense technologies, and international arms export policy. Johnson is the Director of Research at the Casimir Pulaski Foundation. He is also a survivor of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He worked for years in the American defense industry as a foreign technology analyst and later as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Defense, the Departments of the Navy and Air Force, and the governments of the United Kingdom and Australia. In 2022-2023, he won two awards in a row for his defense reporting. He holds a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University and a master’s degree from Miami University in Ohio, with a specialization in Soviet and Russian studies. He lives in Warsaw.