WASHINGTON, Dec 12, (AP): Russia could launch its lethal new intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine again soon, the Pentagon said Wednesday, as both sides wrestle for a battlefield advantage that will give them leverage in any negotiations to end the nearly 3-year war. Sabrina Singh, Pentagon spokeswoman, told reporters in a briefing that an attack could be carried out "in the coming days.”

She added that the US does not consider this missile - called the Oreshnik - a game changer on the battlefield, but that the Russians are "trying to use every weapon that they have in their arsenal to intimidate Ukraine.” She said the US is basing its warning on a new intelligence assessment, but she couldn't provide any other details, including where Russia may strike.

US officials said earlier Wednesday that the US was seeing the Russians make preparations for another launch of the missile, which was used for the first time last month. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive information. The threat comes as President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the war and Western allies suggest that negotiations to do so could begin this winter.

Singh said the US will continue to support Ukraine, including with additional air defense systems designed to protect the country against air assaults. Just days ago, the US promised close to $1 billion in new security aid to Ukraine, including munitions for air defense. The Russian Defense Ministry also suggested that Moscow is prepared to retaliate because Ukraine used six US-made ATACMS missiles to strike a military air base in Taganrog in the southern Rostov region on Wednesday, injuring soldiers.

It said two of the missiles were shot down by an air defense system and four others deflected by electronic warfare assets. "This attack with Western long-range weapons will not be left unanswered and relevant measures will be taken,” the ministry said in a statement. This isn't the first time that US officials have warned of potential Russian action or strategic moves, in part as a diplomatic effort to message Moscow and possibly sway decisions. In the run-up to Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the US openly discussed intelligence that Russia was readying troops to move on Kyiv.