Is Russia truly attacking Kyiv with "Oreshnik"? ISW evaluates the threats posed by Putin.

Is Russia truly attacking Kyiv with the "Oreshnik": ISW assesses Putin's threats

The efforts of Russian leader Vladimir Putin to highlight the technical specifications of the "Oreshnik" missile are part of a broader information campaign.

However, as noted by ISW, there is nothing new in the capabilities of this munition, and therefore its use will not lead to further escalation in the war.

Analysts believe that emphasizing the missile's range and payload, comparing its destructive potential to that of a meteor, is intended to intimidate Ukraine and the West, as well as to prevent Kyiv from continuing to strike Russia with foreign long-range weapons.

"Even Putin's threats to strike 'decision-making centers' in Kyiv are empty words, as Russian troops already regularly target civilian and critical infrastructure in Kyiv using drones and missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads," the analysts explain.

President Volodymyr Zelensky also pointed out this fact yesterday while commenting on Putin's threats at the CSTO Security Council meeting in Kazakhstan. According to the Ukrainian leader, "Putin wants to add thousands to the thousands of missiles that have already been launched at Ukraine."

ISW reminded that the "Oreshnik" strike on November 21 did not change U.S. intelligence assessments regarding Russia's readiness to use nuclear weapons. According to five sources close to American intelligence, this is unlikely to occur in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russia, as reported by Reuters.

"Thus, Putin's constant boasting about the 'Oreshnik' and Russia's missile capabilities remains part of a reflexive control information operation by the Kremlin and is unlikely to be a harbinger of the development of new Russian means for deep strikes," the analysts concluded.