Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday that Moscow has tested a new intermediate-range missile, striking Ukraine in what he described as a response to Kyiv’s recent attacks on Russian territory using U.S. and British-supplied missiles.
During a nationally televised address, Putin warned that the weapon could also be used against countries that provide missiles to Ukraine, escalating tensions further. He claimed the missile strike was a necessary retaliation and promised that Russia would issue advance warnings before future strikes to allow civilian evacuations.
READ: Ukraine Launches Successful Combined Strike On Russian Military Assets Using Drones, Western Weapons
Putin asserted that U.S. air defense systems would not be able to intercept the new Russian missiles, though no technical details were provided. His announcement came shortly after Ukraine reported a Russian missile strike on the city of Dnipro, which American officials identified as likely an intermediate-range ballistic missile rather than an intercontinental one.
Local officials in Dnipro stated that the attack injured two people and damaged an industrial facility and a rehabilitation center for people with disabilities. Ukraine’s air force reported that the missile was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region, near the Caspian Sea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded with sharp criticism, calling Russia’s actions another display of fear and aggression. “Today, our crazy neighbor once again showed what he really is—and how afraid he is,” Zelenskyy said.
READ: Russia’s Revised Nuclear Doctrine: No Significant Shift In Posture, Western Analysts Say
The missile strikes come amid heightened tensions following the Biden administration’s decision to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to target Russian military assets. Ukraine has since fired these missiles at multiple targets within Russia, triggering outrage from Moscow.
Putin responded by signing a revised nuclear doctrine that lowers the threshold for using nuclear weapons. The updated policy allows for a nuclear response to conventional attacks by nations backed by nuclear powers. Western nations condemned the move as part of Russia’s pattern of using nuclear threats to intimidate Ukraine and its allies.
Additionally, the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to aid Russian forces has drawn international criticism, further complicating the geopolitical landscape of the conflict.
On the same day as Putin’s announcement, Russia launched a missile strike on Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih, injuring 26 people and damaging residential buildings, an administrative office, and civilian vehicles. Regional authorities described the attack as another example of indiscriminate targeting of civilians.
READ: Ukraine Strikes Deep Inside Russia With US-Supplied Missiles, Marking Escalation In Conflict
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted two British-made Storm Shadow missiles, six HIMARS rockets, and 67 drones, although it provided no specific details about where or when these interceptions occurred.
More than 1,000 days into the war, analysts note that while Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied missiles has put additional pressure on Russian forces, it is unlikely to drastically alter the conflict’s trajectory. However, the strikes complicate Russian logistics and highlight vulnerabilities in its military operations.
Peter Ricketts, a former U.K. national security adviser, commented on the significance of Ukraine’s expanded missile capabilities. “It undermines Putin’s narrative that it’s acceptable for Russia to attack Ukraine with Iranian drones and North Korean missiles, but reckless escalation for Ukraine to target legitimate military sites in Russia with Western weapons,” Ricketts said to the AP.
Putin has warned that Ukraine’s actions, supported by Western nations, bring Russia and NATO closer to direct conflict, intensifying fears of broader escalation. Observers continue to watch closely as both sides maneuver in an increasingly volatile and unpredictable war.
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