November 21st 2024.
According to President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin launched a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine overnight. This was in response to Ukraine's use of US and British missiles earlier this week, which are capable of reaching deeper into Russian territory. In a televised address to the country, Putin warned that the new missile, called the Oreshnik (meaning hazelnut tree in Russian), flies at an incredible speed - ten times the speed of sound. He also made it clear that this missile could potentially target any of Ukraine's allies if they were to use their missiles against Russia.
The Russian president's comments came after US President Joe Biden gave the green light for Ukraine to use US ATACMS missiles to strike limited targets inside Russia. This decision was met with strong opposition from Putin, who stated that Russia has the right to use its weapons against countries that allow their weapons to be used against them.
Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that the missile launched by Russia was a new type, based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. She also mentioned that the US was notified through nuclear risk reduction channels prior to the launch. This new missile is a major cause for concern as it has the capability to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.
The attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro was a direct response to Ukraine's use of longer-range US and British missiles in strikes on southern Russia. According to Putin, these strikes caused a fire at an ammunition depot and resulted in casualties among security services personnel. He warned that any further aggressive actions from Ukraine would be met with a decisive response from Russia.
In a strong message to Western leaders, Putin also stated that their modern air defence and anti-missile systems would not be able to intercept the Oreshnik. He specifically mentioned the anti-missile defences created by the Americans in Europe, emphasizing their incapability against this new weapon.
Putin revealed that the Oreshnik missile had targeted a well-known missile factory in Dnipro. He also assured that in the event of future strikes using this missile, Russia would issue advance warnings to allow civilians to evacuate to safety. This is a new approach from Russia, as they have not issued such warnings in the past.
Initially, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia had not warned the US about the launch of the new missile, adding that they were not obligated to do so. However, he later changed his statement and confirmed that a warning was issued 30 minutes before the launch.
Putin's announcement came shortly after Ukraine accused Russia of using an intercontinental ballistic missile in the Dnipro attack. American officials, on the other hand, stated that their initial assessment indicated the use of an intermediate-range ballistic missile. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his concern over this escalation of violence, calling it a violation of the UN Charter. He also pointed out the lack of a strong global reaction to this incident, which he believes could potentially threaten other countries.
In a direct message to Western leaders, Zelenskyy stated that Putin was testing them and their response to this situation would determine the future actions of Russia. He urged them to take a tough stance against Russia's actions, as a lack of response would only embolden them further.
Last night, the Kremlin launched a new intermediate-range ballistic missile towards Ukraine in retaliation for their use of US and British missiles, capable of reaching deeper into Russia. President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation through a televised speech, warning that the new missile, named Oreshnik, which translates to hazelnut tree in Russian, flies at an incredible speed of ten times the speed of sound. He also stated that this missile could be used to attack any of Ukraine's allies if they were to use their missiles against Russia.
In his first public comments since US President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the go-ahead to use US ATACMS missiles earlier this month, Putin firmly stated that Russia has the right to defend itself and its military facilities from attacks. He added that the US air defense systems would be no match for the new missile, which could carry either conventional or nuclear warheads. Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that this new missile was based on Russia's RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile and was an experimental type of intermediate-range missile.
The attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro was a response to Ukraine's use of longer-range US and British missiles, which caused a fire at an ammunition depot in Russia's Bryansk region and resulted in casualties in the Kursk region, according to Putin. He warned that any further escalation of aggressive actions from Western leaders would be met with a decisive and proportional response from Russia. Putin urged these leaders to seriously consider their actions and the consequences that may follow.
Despite the use of advanced air defense systems and anti-missile defenses by the US and its allies, Putin emphasized that they would not be able to intercept the Oreshnik missile. He revealed that the missile had successfully struck a well-known missile factory in Dnipro and added that Russia would issue advance warnings before launching any future strikes with this missile, to allow civilians to evacuate to safety. This was a significant shift, as Moscow had not given prior warnings before their previous aerial attacks.
Initially, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia had not notified the US about the launch of the new missile, as they were not obligated to do so. However, he later changed his statement, saying that Moscow had issued a warning just 30 minutes before the launch. This announcement came hours after Ukraine claimed that Russia had used an intercontinental ballistic missile in the Dnipro attack, which caused damage to an industrial facility and a rehabilitation center for people with disabilities. However, American officials stated that their initial assessment showed that an intermediate-range ballistic missile was used.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to Telegram to condemn the use of the missile, calling it a blatant violation of the UN Charter and a significant escalation in the ongoing war. He also expressed disappointment at the lack of a strong global reaction to this attack, warning that it could threaten other countries. Zelenskyy directly addressed Putin, stating that he is testing the resolve of their international partners and if there is no firm response to these actions, then it shows that such actions are acceptable.
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