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In a warning to the West, Putin said Moscow has the right to strike countries whose weapons are used by Ukraine to hit Russian territory
A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is test-fired in Plesetsk, Russia in 2022 | Image/File (AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia launched a “hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile” on a defence industry target in Ukraine, escalating the war to a new level.
Putin’s confirmation of hypersonic missile use contradicts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s claim that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Moscow’s attack comes after Ukraine used US and UK-made missiles to strike military targets deep inside Russian territory this week, escalating the conflict that has already lasted 1,000 days.
In a televised address to the nation, Putin said that Russia carried out “testing in combat conditions of one of the newest Russian mid-range missile systems… Our engineers named it Oreshnik (which means hazel tree in Russian).”
He described Oreshnik as a “ballistic missile” that was deployed in this case “in a non-nuclear hypersonic configuration”, saying that the “test” had been successful and had hit its target.
Air defences cannot intercept the Oreshnik, which attacks at a speed of Mach 10, or 2.5-3 kilometres per second, Putin said.
“Modern air defence systems… cannot intercept such missiles. That’s impossible,” he said. “As of today there are no means of counteracting such a weapon,” the president boasted.
He said Russia was testing the Oreshnik in combat conditions “in response to the aggressive actions of NATO countries towards Russia.”
Putin Warns West
In an apparent warning to the West, Putin said Moscow has the right to strike countries whose weapons are used by Ukraine to hit Russian territory.
“We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities,” Putin said.
“In the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond just as decisively,” he said.
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Putin Using Ukraine As Testing Ground: Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of apparently using an intercontinental ballistic missile.
In a video on X, Zelensky said speed and altitude of the Russian missile suggest intercontinental ballistic capabilities.
“It’s clear that Putin is using Ukraine as a testing ground. It’s also clear that he is terrified of normal life next to him. A life where people live with dignity. A country that wants to be free and has the right to be independent,” he said.
Today, our insane neighbor has once again revealed its true nature—its disdain for dignity, freedom, and human life itself. And, most of all, its fear.Fear so overwhelming that it unleashes missile after missile, scouring the globe for more weapons—whether from Iran or North… pic.twitter.com/tEsZ0Uu1bt
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2024
Ukraine Fires ‘Storm Shadow’
Within a day of launching US-developed long-range missiles, Ukraine fired British “Storm Shadow” missiles to strike military targets in Russia, something that Moscow has warned for months would be seen as a major escalation.
The missile strikes targeted military structures in Russia’s Kursk region, while others were intercepted over the Black Sea port city of Yeysk, according to reports from Russian channels linked to the military.
Earlier, Ukraine used US-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to hit Russian targets, only after the reported approval of US President Joe Biden, who instructed Kyiv to use missiles only in and around the Kursk region.
It comes as Russia’s war in Ukraine crossed 1,000 days and currently remains at a volatile juncture with increased military strikes and geopolitical situation. There is growing speculation about the future aid to Ukraine as US President-elect Donald Trump will replace Biden at the White House in January.
(With inputs from agencies)