In an address, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke after launching a missile strike on Ukraine, with relations between Russia and the West at a historic low.
The Russian president, following the update of the nuclear doctrine and after warning the West that it would respond in case of escalation, admitted that Russia had struck Ukraine with a medium-range ballistic missile.
Specifically, he said: “Thus, Russia conducted tests of the newest medium-range missile, Oreshnik, in response to the aggressive actions of NATO countries against Russia.”
“In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons, on November 21, Russian armed forces launched an attack on one of Ukraine’s military facilities,” he added.
“Attacks with Western weapons on Russian territory will not change the course of Russia’s military operation,” he continued.
“In the case of escalation, we will respond symmetrically,” he emphasized.
He added that if Russia uses a hypersonic weapon against Ukraine, Moscow will warn citizens.
The West Rejects the Version of Kyiv – “The Russians Did Not Strike with an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile”
It is noteworthy that there is a difference of opinion between Kyiv and the West regarding the type of missile Russia used to strike Ukraine. Russia did not use an intercontinental ballistic missile in its attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, two Western officials told Reuters, contradicting the official version from Ukraine.
The Western officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the assessment was based on initial analysis and left open the possibility that this conclusion could change.
Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are strategic weapons capable of delivering nuclear strikes over long distances and are a crucial part of Russia’s nuclear deterrence.
Zelensky After Russia’s Missile Launch: The Speed and Height Indicate It Was an ICBM
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Moscow, accusing it of using Ukraine as a “testing ground” for its military technology, and claimed that Russia had launched an intercontinental ballistic missile at his country for the first time in history.
If confirmed, this would be the first time in history such an attack occurred and would represent a further escalation, as Russia had previously stated that it would prepare a “proper” response to Ukraine’s use of Western weapons on Russian soil, which Moscow had declared a “red line.”
ICBMs are designed to carry nuclear warheads and strike at distances of thousands of kilometers. Neither the Kremlin nor the military have commented on this Ukrainian accusation so far.
“All the characteristics of it: speed, altitude, indicate that it was an intercontinental ballistic missile. An expert analysis is underway,” said Volodymyr Zelensky in a video posted on Telegram.
“Today, our crazy neighbor showed once again what it really is and how much it despises dignity, freedom, and human life in general. And how much it is afraid,” Zelensky said.
“It is obvious that Putin is using Ukraine as a testing ground,” continued the Ukrainian president, adding: “He is so afraid that he is already using new missiles.”
In conclusion, Volodymyr Zelensky assessed that, as he said, Vladimir “Putin is ready to do anything to prevent his neighbor [Ukraine] from escaping his influence,” after nearly three years of Russian invasion of Ukraine.
