Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Moscow's use of an experimental ballistic missile a “clear and severe escalation” in the war and called for strong global condemnation.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed “the aggressive actions of NATO countries” for pushing Moscow to test a new intermediate-range missile in an attack on Ukraine.
Thursday's strikes on Dnipro with the new experimental missile “Orechnik” (Walnutin Russian) injured at least two people and damaged an industrial facility and a rehabilitation center for disabled people.
Mr Putin said Russia was carrying out “combat tests” of the new missile system in response to Ukrainian strikes earlier this week using US and British missiles.
“The targets to be destroyed during further tests of our latest missile systems will be determined by us based on the threats to the security of the Russian Federation. We consider that we have the right to use our weapons against military installations of countries that allow the use of their weapons against our installations,” Mr. Putin said in an address on national television.
“And in the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond equally decisively and in kind. I recommend that the ruling elites of countries considering using their military contingents against Russia seriously think about it.”
The Ukrainian Air Force initially claimed that Russia had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), but U.S. and British intelligence sources later reduced this claim to an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). ).
The Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement that the attack on Dnipro was launched from Russia's Astrakhan region on the Caspian Sea.
“Our crazy neighbor showed how scared he is”
In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced Russia's use of the “Oreshnik”, saying Mr Putin was using Ukraine as a “training ground”.
“Today our crazy neighbor showed once again what he really is and how much he despises dignity, freedom and human life in general. And how afraid he is,” he said. -he declared.
“He's so scared that he's already using new missiles. And he's looking for weapons all over the world. Sometimes in Iran, sometimes in North Korea.”
“The world must react,” said Mr. Zelensky. He added that Putin was “spitting in the face of those in the world who sincerely want peace” and was “putting the world to the test.”
“So far there is no strong reaction from the world. Putin is very sensitive to this. He is testing you, dear partners. … We have to stop him. The lack of strong reactions to Russia's actions sends a message that such behavior is acceptable. That’s what Putin does.”
Sabrina Singh, deputy press secretary at the Pentagon, confirmed that the Russian missile was a new experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on the RS-26 Rubej intercontinental ballistic missile (Border).
“This is a new type of lethal capability deployed on the battlefield, which is certainly concerning,” Ms. Singh said, adding that the missile was fired with a conventional warhead, but Moscow could modify it if she wanted it: “ It could be refitted to carry different types of conventional or nuclear warheads ».
The United States was informed of the launch through nuclear risk reduction channels, she added.
The spokesperson for theI'LL TAKEFarah Dakhlallah, said: “Deploying this capability will not change the course of the conflict and will not deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine.”
A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that Kyiv had already taken a number of political and diplomatic measures in response to the missile test.
“I think that today's provocation by the Moscow regime once again proves the policy of maintaining peace, which has never worked and which is not working today. All these calls, all these visits, all these demands for peace only feed the appetite for aggression and encourage the aggressor to expand the war, to raise the stakes, so we need peace through force,” said Heorhii Tykhyi.
Ukrainian Parliament reportedly postpones Friday session due to “potential security concerns” following the attack, state broadcaster Suspilne said, citing sources. The channel reported that lawmakers had been ordered not to leave their families in kyiv's government quarter and cited parliamentarians who said that, at the moment, the next session was not scheduled until next month. December.
The escalation of tensions
Russia's strikes come in a week where tensions have soared as the United States eased restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range U.S.-made missiles inside Russia, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has lowered the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons.
At the start of the week, US President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to use longer-range U.S.-supplied missiles to strike military targets deeper inside Russia.
The move angered Moscow, with Mr Putin having already warned that if Western allies allowed Ukraine to use their weapons on Russian territory, Russia would be “at war” with NATO.
According to the Kremlin, Ukraine fired several ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missiles at Russia on Tuesday.
The day after, Ukraine used up to 12 Franco-British-made Storm Shadow missiles for strikes in the Russian region of Kursk.
Also this week, Mr. Putin signed a new doctrine that allows for a potential nuclear response, even in the event of a conventional attack on Russia, from any country backed by a nuclear power.
U.S. officials said the Biden administration's change in policing was a response to Russia's use of thousands of troops from North Korea to support Moscow's forces in the conflict.
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