Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had struck Ukraine with a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, days after Kyiv used Western-supplied weapons to target locations inside Russia, reported <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4n9vgwnnyo">BBC News</a>.
The attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, which took place on Thursday morning, had sparked hours of speculation about the weapon used.
In a surprise national address, Putin confirmed that the missile, capable of reaching speeds of “2.5-3 km per second,” was a “new” intermediate-range ballistic missile, codenamed Oreshnik.
This contradicted Ukraine’s earlier claims, with President Zelensky and the foreign ministry alleging the attack was carried out by an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), a claim that US officials quickly dismissed.
Had it been an ICBM, it would have marked the first use of such a missile in the war.
Putin said that the missile strike was a direct response to Ukraine’s use of US and UK long-range weapons, including ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles, which were recently authorised for use in Ukraine’s military operations.
He warned that Russia could target military facilities in the US and UK that allowed their weapons to be used against Russia.
The Russian leader also issued a stark warning to the West, stating that Moscow was “ready for any developments.”
The Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, confirmed that the US had been notified “briefly” via Nuclear Risk Reduction channels, which are typically used for missile launch notifications.
Putin revealed that a test of a non-nuclear hypersonic version of the missile had been successful, with the target reached.
He claimed there was no way to counter such a weapon, which can strike at speeds of 10 Mach (around 2.5-3 km/s).
Putin concluded his statement with a warning to the West: “If anyone still doubts this, they shouldn’t. There will always be a response.”
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Putin said Russia used a new missile in Ukraine. It was not an intercontinental missile like Ukraine claimed. Putin warned to hit US and UK targets if they help Ukraine. US was notified of the missile test. The missile can't be stopped and is very fast. Putin warned the West to be ready for a response. He tested a successful non-nuclear hypersonic version of the missile. Putin said there will always be a response to any doubts from the West.

Putin Confirms Use Of New Missile In Ukraine, Threatens To Hit Targets In US, UK

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at the city of Dnipro, which, if confirmed, would be the first use of such a weapon in any armed conflict.
Western officials, as reported by ABC News, questioned this claim, suggesting that the missile was actually a shorter-range ballistic missile, similar to those previously used by Russia in the war against Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s air force, nine projectiles were launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region at Dnipro between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. local time. The missile is believed to have travelled about 500 miles (800 km) to reach its target.
The missile reportedly hit its target “without consequences,” though there were no immediate reports of casualties. Six of the nine projectiles were intercepted by Ukraine’s air defence systems.
Russian ICBMs have a range of over 6,200 miles, capable of reaching targets as far as the U.S. east coast.
These weapons are also capable of carrying nuclear warheads, which could make such a launch a symbolic or strategic signal from Moscow, though it has not been officially confirmed, reported <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/21/russia-fired-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-at-dnipro-says-ukraine">The Guardian</a>.
Russia has not acknowledged the use of an ICBM and did not mention it in its daily military briefing.
However, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova appeared to inadvertently reference the missile strike in a phone conversation caught on a hot mic, where an unidentified caller instructed her not to comment “on the ballistic missile strike”. The caller did not use the word intercontinental.
Under an agreement between the U.S. and Russia signed in 2000, each side is supposed to notify the other 24 hours in advance of any missile launch exceeding 500 km. It is unclear whether Russia followed this protocol.
Pavel Podvig, an expert on Russian nuclear weapons, warned that there wasn’t enough information to confirm whether the missile was an ICBM.
He suggested that while using an ICBM in a military context may not make sense due to its high cost and low accuracy, it could serve as a political or strategic signal.
The U.S. and UK have permitted longer-range missiles, like the Atacms and Storm Shadow, to be used against targets in or near Russia’s Kursk region, a development that Russia has warned it would respond to “accordingly.”
The U.S. embassy in Kyiv temporarily closed after receiving a warning of a “potential significant air attack.” The closure was linked to increased concerns over Russia’s missile activities, particularly ICBM threats.
Early reports from Dnipro suggested damage to an industrial enterprise and two fires in the city. Civilian impact remains limited, though full details have not been confirmed.
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Russia fired a big missile at a city in Ukraine. Some say it was a long-range missile, but others think it was a short one. The missile hit the city, but no one got hurt. Ukraine stopped some of the missiles with their defense systems. Russia did not admit to using a big missile. Some people think firing the big missile was just a message, not a real attack. The US and UK have also used long-range missiles near Russia. The US embassy in Ukraine closed because of fears of more missile attacks. Damage was seen in the city, but no details are confirmed yet.

Ukraine Claims Russia Fired Intercontinental Ballistic Missile At Eastern City

Russia’s army has reportedly gained full control of the strategic hilltop town of Vuhledar in eastern Ukraine, according to unconfirmed claims by pro-Russian military bloggers, reported <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/2/russia-reportedly-captures-key-town-of-vuhledar-in-eastern-ukraine">Al Jazeera</a>.
The mining town, located in the Donetsk region, is significant for its strategic position and has resisted capture since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
The governor of Donetsk reported that Russian troops had reached the centre of Vuhledar shortly before these claims emerged.
Russian authorities have not commented on the reports that it now controls the town.
Vuhledar serves as a supply hub for both Ukrainian and Russian forces, located at the intersection of the eastern and southern fronts.
Its capture is viewed as crucial for Moscow’s efforts to control the entire Donetsk region.
The town’s strategic value is heightened by its closeness to a rail line connecting Crimea to the industrial Donbas region.
While under Ukrainian control, Vuhledar allowed forces to target Russian supply lines.
Russian forces reached the outskirts last week and have intensified their offensive, complicating Ukrainian supplies and troop rotations.
Reports indicate that remaining Ukrainian defenders faced heavy bombardment from aerial glide bombs.
Ongoing fierce fighting since 2022 has devastated much of Vuhledar. Recent footage showed Russian soldiers unfurling flags from bombed buildings, corroborating claims of their presence in the town.
Since August, Russian troops have advanced rapidly in eastern Ukraine, marking their fastest progress in over two years, despite Ukrainian incursions into Russia’s Kursk region.
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Russian forces have taken over a town called Vuhledar in Ukraine. This town is very important because it is a hub for supplies for both Ukrainian and Russian troops. The town is also close to a rail line connecting Crimea to the Donbas region. The Russian troops have been advancing quickly in eastern Ukraine, causing a lot of damage and fighting. The town has been heavily bombed and many Ukrainian defenders are facing attacks. This is part of Russia's efforts to control the Donetsk region in Ukraine.

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