– Russia has done, is doing and will do what it wants, if it can do it – said reserve colonel Maciej Matysiak, commenting on the information about Russia's use of a medium-range ballistic missile against Ukraine. He also noted that at the moment “Russia is de facto starting to push for some negotiations” and wants to gain an advantage before talks with Ukraine and the West. Anna Maria Dyner (Polityka Insight) assessed that Thursday's attack using a powerful new weapon “was intended to have a psychological effect.”
Anna Maria Dyner from Polityka Insight and reserve colonel Maciej Matysiak – an expert of the Stratpoints Foundation, former deputy head of the Military Counterintelligence Service – spoke in “Fakty po Faktach” on TVN24 about the latest events in Ukraine. On Thursday morning, the Russians attacked the city of Dnieper from the air.
The latest information, confirmed by the American administration and himself Vladimir Putin (his speech was broadcast on Russian television in the evening) indicate that they are under attack Moscow used an “experimental medium-range ballistic missile.” Putin called him “oryshnik” (hazel).
Matysiak said that the use of these weapons “simply means that Russia has done, is doing and will do whatever it wants, if it can do it.” He also stated that “from a military point of view, it is simply a missile.” – The one that flies a little further – he added.
When asked whether its use had a military or psychological purpose, the TVN24 guest replied that “from a military point of view, its use makes no sense, so it only makes political sense in this situation.” In his opinion, the political goal may be “a message that: seriously, my changed nuclear doctrine can be implemented, I have the strength, the means, and think about it, so this is still potentially nuclear blackmail.”
Iskander system rocket – Russian short-range ballistic missile. The new missile – Oreshnik – is to be larger than itmil.ru
“It was supposed to have a psychological effect”
Dyner noted that “During today's speech, Vladimir Putin said that it was a completely new missile,” whose name translates into Polish as “hazel.” – Theoretically, this is a new warhead that is just being tested and has recently entered service with the Russian Federation's 99th Division – she explained.
– I absolutely agree that it was intended to have a psychological effect. Moreover, Putin said during his speech that Russia will warn the civilian population if they are still “forced” to use this type of weapon, the expert noted.
Dyner: During today's speech, Putin said that it was a completely new missileTVN24
“The Russians are now playing for the strongest possible position during the negotiations”
Dyner also said that “the Russians are now playing for the strongest possible position during the negotiations, because they are well aware that they will probably have to sit at the negotiating table.”
– They want to show themselves as strong as possible in relation to Donald Trumpeven before his inauguration (as president USA – ed.), but they also want to intimidate Western countries and the authorities in Kiev into changing their policy towards Russia, and Western countries also towards Ukraine, i.e. giving up their current assistance, she added.
Matysiak agreed with this opinion, saying that “Russia is actually starting to push for some negotiations and wants to turn the situation upside down for many reasons.” – A change in the balance of power in the West, i.e. a change in the (US) president's chair, but also, it must be emphasized, the progressive weakness of the Russian economy and efficiency – he enumerated.
According to him, “this is also a role play, but President Putin and Russia, even when it has the last bullet in the chamber of the last soldier, will not admit it.” – Until the last moment, President Putin will say that he is strong, capable, able to win when he wants, how he wants. If he could, he would have done it already, said the military man.
Main photo source: TVN24