Putin Confirms Missile Strike on Ukraine Amid Escalating Tensions
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow tested a new intermediate-range missile during a strike on Ukraine, warning that such weapons could also target countries aiding Kyiv in its attacks on Russian territory.
The missile strike, which took place on Thursday, was framed as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russian soil earlier in the week using US- and UK-supplied missiles, Putin said in a televised address. Hours earlier, Ukraine accused Russia of launching an intercontinental ballistic missile at the city of Dnipro, wounding two people and damaging an industrial facility and a rehabilitation center for disabled individuals.
In his address, Putin claimed Russia would issue prior warnings if further missile strikes were planned to give civilians time to evacuate. He also stated that US air defense systems would not be able to intercept the newly tested Russian missiles.
American officials confirmed the strike appeared to involve an intermediate-range ballistic missile. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that the missile targeting Dnipro was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region near the Caspian Sea.
This development comes amid heightened tensions following the Biden administration’s decision to allow Ukraine to use American-made longer-range missiles for strikes within Russia. Moscow reacted strongly, accusing Washington of escalating the conflict.
Earlier in the week, Ukraine reportedly launched several US-supplied ATACMS missiles into Russian territory, shortly after Washington approved their use. On the same day, Putin signed a revised military doctrine permitting the use of nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks on Russia by nations supported by nuclear powers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the missile strike on Dnipro, describing it as further evidence of Russia’s aggression and fear. Meanwhile, US officials suggested the change in Ukraine’s missile strategy was influenced by reports of North Korean troop involvement on Russia’s side in the conflict.
As tensions continue to rise, both sides brace for further escalation in a conflict that shows no signs of resolution.
