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Putin warns West as Russia hits Ukraine with 'new missile' | Putin warns West as Russia hits Ukraine with 'new missile' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Ukraine says critical infrastructure was targeted in Dnipro | Ukraine says critical infrastructure was targeted in Dnipro |
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that an attack by his forces on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday morning was carried out using "a new conventional intermediate-range missile". | Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that an attack by his forces on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday morning was carried out using "a new conventional intermediate-range missile". |
He said that the missile, codenamed Oreshnik, was a response to the use by Ukraine of US and UK long-range weaponry to hit targets inside Russia. | He said that the missile, codenamed Oreshnik, was a response to the use by Ukraine of US and UK long-range weaponry to hit targets inside Russia. |
Putin added that Russia could attack military facilities of those countries which allowed their weapons to be used for this purpose. | Putin added that Russia could attack military facilities of those countries which allowed their weapons to be used for this purpose. |
The US and the UK authorised the use of US ATACMS and UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles this week, in a major change of policy. | The US and the UK authorised the use of US ATACMS and UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles this week, in a major change of policy. |
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia's use of the new missile was "a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war." | |
"[This] is yet more proof that Russia has no interest in peace," he wrote on X,, external adding: "Putin is not only prolonging the war - he is spitting in the face of those in the world who genuinely want peace to be restored." | |
Earlier, Zelensky said the missile had the characteristics of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), even as Western officials cast doubt on this theory. | |
The US National Security Council, meanwhile, said "an experimental medium-range ballistic missile" had been used against Ukraine, adding that Russia probably only possessed a handful of these weapons and that they would not be a game changer in the war. | The US National Security Council, meanwhile, said "an experimental medium-range ballistic missile" had been used against Ukraine, adding that Russia probably only possessed a handful of these weapons and that they would not be a game changer in the war. |
The Pentagon's deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said the US had been notified "briefly" before the missile was launched through Nuclear Risk Reduction channels - which are used to exchange information on issues including missile launch notifications. | |
Putin said a "test" was successfully carried out on a non-nuclear hypersonic version of a ballistic missile and that the "target was reached". | Putin said a "test" was successfully carried out on a non-nuclear hypersonic version of a ballistic missile and that the "target was reached". |
"In response to the use of American and British long-range weaponry, on 21 November this year, the Russian armed forces carried out a combined strike on one of Ukraine's military-industrial complex sites," he said. | "In response to the use of American and British long-range weaponry, on 21 November this year, the Russian armed forces carried out a combined strike on one of Ukraine's military-industrial complex sites," he said. |
There is no way of counteracting this weapon, which attacks targets at a speed of 10 Mach, or 2.5-3km/s, he said. | There is no way of counteracting this weapon, which attacks targets at a speed of 10 Mach, or 2.5-3km/s, he said. |
And he warned the West that Russia was "ready for any developments. If anyone still doubts this, they shouldn’t. There will always be a response”. | And he warned the West that Russia was "ready for any developments. If anyone still doubts this, they shouldn’t. There will always be a response”. |
Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at Rusi, a think tank, said available information about the Russian missile suggests something with a longer range than the Iskanders used so far in the conflict, which have a range of up to 500km (311 miles). | Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at Rusi, a think tank, said available information about the Russian missile suggests something with a longer range than the Iskanders used so far in the conflict, which have a range of up to 500km (311 miles). |
Intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) - which Putin appears to have been describing - generally have ranges of between 3,000 and 5,500km. | Intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) - which Putin appears to have been describing - generally have ranges of between 3,000 and 5,500km. |
Savill says the use of such a weapon may not have huge military significance but is symbolically important, coming on the back of Russia's revised nuclear doctrine which many see as a lowering of the threshold for the use of such weapons. | Savill says the use of such a weapon may not have huge military significance but is symbolically important, coming on the back of Russia's revised nuclear doctrine which many see as a lowering of the threshold for the use of such weapons. |
It is, he says, a not so subtle reminder that Russia has a wider arsenal of different and larger missile types and is ready to develop more. | It is, he says, a not so subtle reminder that Russia has a wider arsenal of different and larger missile types and is ready to develop more. |
Putin's announcement comes as the conflict in Ukraine - which marked its 1,000th day on Tuesday - appears to be entering a new, dangerous phase. | Putin's announcement comes as the conflict in Ukraine - which marked its 1,000th day on Tuesday - appears to be entering a new, dangerous phase. |
Last Sunday US President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the go-ahead to use long-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to strike inside Russia, and two days later they were launched into Russia's Bryansk region. | Last Sunday US President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the go-ahead to use long-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to strike inside Russia, and two days later they were launched into Russia's Bryansk region. |
On Wednesday, Ukraine was reported to have used UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets. On the same day, Biden also agreed to give Ukraine anti-personnel landmines. | On Wednesday, Ukraine was reported to have used UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets. On the same day, Biden also agreed to give Ukraine anti-personnel landmines. |
The Western moves were apparently in response to Moscow's deployment of North Korean troops as it prepares for an offensive aimed at driving Ukrainian troops out of a small area they have occupied in Russia's Kursk region. | The Western moves were apparently in response to Moscow's deployment of North Korean troops as it prepares for an offensive aimed at driving Ukrainian troops out of a small area they have occupied in Russia's Kursk region. |
But they also come as Donald Trump prepares to return to the US presidency in two months' time. | But they also come as Donald Trump prepares to return to the US presidency in two months' time. |
Trump has promised to end the US involvement in wars and instead use taxpayers' money to improve Americans' lives. He has said he will bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end within 24 hours, without saying how. | Trump has promised to end the US involvement in wars and instead use taxpayers' money to improve Americans' lives. He has said he will bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end within 24 hours, without saying how. |
Also this week Putin - seemingly reacting to these moves - ratcheted up the tension still further by loosening the conditions of use for Russia’s nuclear weapons. | Also this week Putin - seemingly reacting to these moves - ratcheted up the tension still further by loosening the conditions of use for Russia’s nuclear weapons. |
And Russia stepped up air strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure, as its ground forces continue their advance in eastern Ukraine. | And Russia stepped up air strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure, as its ground forces continue their advance in eastern Ukraine. |