Putin escalates conflict: Russia targets Kyiv with new missiles
Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday additional assaults on Ukraine using the latest Russian hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile systems. He also stated that he would not allow Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons and warned that, otherwise, he would use "all means of destruction."
28 November 2024 14:56
The speech by Russian leader Vladimir Putin during the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Astana on Thursday was a precursor to further attacks on Ukrainian cities. "At present, the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff are selecting targets to hit on Ukrainian territory," Putin announced.
"These could be military facilities, defence and industrial enterprises, or decision-making centres in Kyiv," stated the leader. He also added that the serial production of the Oreshnik missile system has already commenced; however, the army will employ various types of weapons and ammunition.
Putin announces new attacks on Kyiv. Oresznik systems are already in production
"But at the end of the day, it will be up to us to choose the means of destruction considering the nature of the targets that were selected to be wiped out and the threats posed to the Russian Federation," noted Putin.
He also emphasised that Moscow will respond to any attack on Russian territory using Western long-range missiles. Therefore, further tests of Oreshnik in combat conditions are possible, "as was done on November 21," he announced.
He noted that the United States and their NATO allies announced on 21 November the decision to grant Kyiv permission to use precision long-range weapons. Subsequently, as he pointed out, missiles produced in the USA and the United Kingdom attacked Russian military facilities in the Kursk and Bryansk regions.
Russia's response, as Putin explained, was the testing of the latest hypersonic medium-range ballistic missiles Oreshnik with conventional warheads. This military capability was directed at the large Ukrainian defence enterprise Yuzhmash in Dnipro.
The Russian leader emphasised that provocative actions by the West could have serious consequences if the conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate. "Strikes on Russian territory, including those using Western weapons, will not go unanswered," stated the leader.
"As I have repeatedly said, we will always respond," he emphasised.
He also stressed that the transfer of nuclear weapons to Ukraine by anyone would violate non-proliferation commitments, meaning the prevention of the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
