Russia’s Putin Announces Further Use of New Missile, Including in ‘Combat Conditions’

President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia possesses a supply of potent new missiles that are “ready to be used.” This declaration came a day after Russia launched a new ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. During an unscheduled televised address, the Russian head of state asserted that the Oreshnik missile is impervious to interception and committed to conducting additional tests, specifically mentioning “combat conditions.” The deployment of the Oreshnik by Russia concluded a week of heightened conflict, which also marked the initial instance of Ukraine launching US and British missiles into Russian territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged global leaders to provide a “serious response” to ensure that Putin “feels the real consequences of his actions.” He further noted that Ukraine was requesting advanced air defense systems from its Western allies. As reported by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Kyiv is attempting to acquire the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system or to enhance its existing Patriot anti-ballistic missile defense systems. During his address on Friday, Putin stated that the Oreshnik hypersonic missiles travel at ten times the speed of sound and issued an order for their production. He had previously indicated that the missile’s deployment was a reaction to Ukraine’s utilization of Storm Shadow and Atacms missiles. Eyewitnesses characterized Thursday’s assault on Dnipro as uncommon, leading to explosions that persisted for three hours. The assault involved a missile strike of such intensity that Ukrainian officials subsequently commented on its resemblance to an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Justin Crump, who is the CEO and founder of the risk advisory firm Sibylline, informed the BBC that Moscow probably employed the strike as a cautionary signal, observing that the missile – being swifter and more sophisticated than other weapons in its inventory – possesses the capability to significantly test Ukraine’s air defenses. The heightened tensions this week have also elicited multiple warnings from various world leaders concerning the trajectory of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared that the conflict was progressing into a critical phase, carrying a genuine threat of global confrontation. Concurrently, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban advised that Western nations ought to accept Vladimir Putin’s warnings “at face value” given that Russia “bases its policies primarily on military power.” Furthermore, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un cautioned that the danger of a nuclear war had “never before” been more pronounced and charged the US with maintaining an “aggressive and hostile” stance toward Pyongyang. North Korea has deployed thousands of soldiers to support Russia, and Ukrainian forces have documented engagements with these troops in Russia’s Kursk region, an area where Ukrainian forces currently occupy some land. US President Biden stated that he authorized Ukraine to employ longer-range Atacms missiles against objectives within Russia, in retaliation for Moscow’s deployment of North Korean troops. Russia initiated a comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Both nations are presently endeavoring to gain a strategic advantage on the battlefield prior to Donald Trump assuming the US presidency in January. Trump has pledged to conclude the conflict within hours, though he has not disclosed specifics on how this would be achieved. In his evening address, Zelensky additionally criticized China for its reaction to Moscow’s new missile, following a statement from China’s foreign ministry advising all involved parties to “remain calm and exercise restraint.” He remarked, “From Russia, this is a mockery of the position of states such as China, states of the Global South, some leaders who call for restraint every time.” He further expressed disapproval of the Ukrainian parliament for deferring a Friday session due to security apprehensions subsequent to the Dnipro attack. In a Telegram message, he asserted that unless an air raid alert was issued, everyone should continue working as usual, and not interpret Russian threats as “permission to have a day off.” He declared, “The siren sounds – we go to shelter. When there is no siren – we work and serve. There is no other way in war.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material found on external websites. Details on our external linking policy are available.