Russia Intensifies Military Production in Response to US Approval for Ukraine Attacks
In the wake of the USA's authorization for Ukraine to launch strikes on Russian territory using American ATACMS missiles, Russia has swiftly moved to counter these developments. Reports indicate that President Vladimir Putin has revised his nuclear weapons policy and is taking measures to bolster Russia's military capabilities. Recent satellite imagery, analyzed by Maxar Technologies, reveals a marked increase in military production activities across various locations in Russia from July to October.
Notably, five key complexes in Russia have been focused on enhancing the production of solid-fuel missile engines. These sites, located in regions such as the Altai Republic, Siberia, Rostov, St. Petersburg, and Perm, have seen heightened efforts aimed at developing and manufacturing rocket propellants.
Fabian Hinz, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), indicates that these developments could significantly boost Russia's missile production capabilities, essential for sustaining its military efforts in Ukraine after more than two and a half years of conflict. The urgency to replenish missile reserves is underscored by Russia's need to bypass shortages through external support from other nations like North Korea and Iran, while simultaneously ramping up domestic production.
The improved solid-fuel missiles being produced are believed to offer strategic advantages on the battlefield. According to defense analyst Pavel Podvig, these missiles are characterized by enhanced safety, prolonged storage capabilities, and reduced logistical demands compared to their liquid-fuel counterparts. Podvig suggests that a boost in missile production is a foreseeable consequence of these initiatives, which appear to be a direct response to the evolving military landscape and the potential confrontation with Western forces.
Despite this surge in production, Podvig cautions that an increase in the production of strategic nuclear missiles is unlikely. However, he does anticipate that by May, Russia will be compelled to expand its missile arsenal in preparation for prospective engagements against the US and its allies on the international stage. This escalation underlines the ongoing tension and the complex dynamics now playing out in Eastern Europe and beyond.
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