U.S. intel warns Kyiv of Russia's possible Oreshnik strike in coming days

Bloomberg, Associated Press and Reuters reported this with reference to U.S. officials.

"A U.S. intelligence assessment has concluded that Russia may use its lethal new intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine again in coming days," the report says.

The U.S. sees the use of the Oreshnik as an attempt to intimidate rather than a turning point on the battlefield. According to one of the anonymous officials, these missiles carry a smaller warhead than other missiles that are regularly launched into Ukraine.

"We assess that the Oreshnik is not a game-changer on the battlefield, but rather just another attempt by Russia to terrorize Ukraine, which will fail," the official said.

The Americans also predict that the Russians possess only a few Oreshnik missiles.

• On November 28, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said that decision-making centres in Kyiv could be targeted by a new Oreshnik missile, which Russia used to attack Dnipro on November 21.
• On December 10, Putin promoted the narrative that Russia was not improving its nuclear doctrine, but the Oreshnik system.