Experts Warn of New Russian Missile with Terminal Maneuvering Capabilities

According to a report by Fox News, Ukrainian intelligence officials have stated that Russia is preparing for the final test of a new ballistic missile with a range of 800 kilometers. Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, stated at a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council that the test could take place by the end of this year. Military analysts suggest that Russia may use these missiles for live-fire strikes on the battlefield. Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Fox News that if the missile possesses advanced terminal maneuvering capabilities, intercepting it will become significantly more difficult for Ukraine's air defense systems. According to Karako, these 'terminal end game surprises' make the missile's trajectory unpredictable for defenders. This missile falls into a category previously prohibited under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The United States withdrew from the treaty in 2019, citing repeated Russian violations. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, highlighting the growing strain on his country's air defenses, has called for the supply of more interceptor missiles to counter Russian strikes during the upcoming cold months.