Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Thursday that Russia had launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Dnieper, Ukraine, following reports from Ukrainian media and the country’s military forces.
Putin stated that the missile launch was a response to Ukraine‘s use of long-range missiles supplied by the U.S. and U.K., aimed at Russian targets. He emphasized that the missile strike was a direct retaliation for Ukraine’s targeting of Russian soil with long-range weaponry.
A Direct Response to Western Military Aid
Putin explained that Russia had launched the experimental hypersonic ballistic missile during the night, calling it a response to Kiev’s permission to use U.S. and British long-range rockets to target Russian territory.
In his statement, Putin warned that this escalation would be met with further action:
“We will respond to this escalation,” he declared, signaling that Russia would take additional measures.
This is the most direct warning from Putin to date regarding the possibility of a broader war involving NATO. He had previously suggested that allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons would bring NATO into direct conflict with Moscow.
Testing of New Russian Missile Systems
Putin also announced that Russian forces had conducted a combined strike on an Ukrainian defense industry facility, which included testing one of the latest Russian medium-range missile systems. The missile in question, a hypersonic non-nuclear warhead, was part of the operation.
“We have used an advanced system,” Putin said, emphasizing the new capabilities of Russian missile technology. He added that these missiles could strike targets at speeds of 2.5 to 3 kilometers per second, rendering them almost impossible to counter.
Warnings to Civilians and Allies
Putin further stated that Russia would issue warnings to civilians and any Ukrainian-aligned foreign nationals in areas targeted by future missile strikes. “We will issue public warnings for humanitarian reasons, without fear of any opposition from the enemy,” Putin said. He reassured that such actions would be transparent, giving civilians time to evacuate.
Global Reactions and Military Analysts’ View
While Russian officials have confirmed the use of the missile, an American official anonymously told The Moscow Times that it was likely a reference to the Oreshnik missile, a medium-range ballistic missile with hypersonic capabilities. However, the official pointed out that Russia likely possesses only a limited number of these advanced weapons.
The missile’s launch represents a significant escalation in the conflict, with analysts suggesting that it highlights the growing sophistication and range of Russian military technology amid the ongoing war with Ukraine.
