Psychological effect Putin is counting on: expert on Oreshnik strike

Military expert Ivan Tymochko said this on Espreso TV.

"Oreshnik and RS-26 Rubezh are essentially the same version in different modifications. If we consider its kinetic impact or the explosive force it creates without a warhead, then in terms of blast power it's approximately like a Kalibr - I emphasize, without a nuclear charge," Tymochko noted.

According to the military expert, in reality the Oreshnik is important to the enemy because it produces a quite serious psychological effect that Putin is counting on when using this missile.

"In other words, this strike on the Lviv region is more of a psychological strike. Russia will now launch a massive information campaign around this to intimidate Europe first and foremost. This happened after talks began about launching one of the points of action of the Coalition of the Willing, namely - about the potential possibility of deploying European armies in Ukraine after peace agreements. I think this is precisely the message Putin is now trying to send to Europeans," Tymochko added.

• Russia claims it used Oreshnik missiles during an overnight attack on Ukraine on January 9, allegedly in retaliation for a drone attack on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's residence.