The Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Moscow reserves the right to strike military facilities in countries that supply Ukraine with weapons for attacks on Russian soil. This comes after Ukrainian forces used Western-supplied long-range missiles against targets within Russia.
During a televised address, Putin emphasized that Russia’s military actions were in direct response to recent Ukrainian missile strikes in the Kursk and Bryansk regions, which utilized American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles.
These attacks were described as adding ”elements of a global character” to the conflict, suggesting a shift from a regional to a more international scale of engagement.
Introduction of Oreshnik Missile
Russia demonstrated its military capabilities by conducting what was described as a ”combat test” of a new medium-range ballistic missile system, dubbed Oreshnik.
The missile, reportedly capable of travelling at hypersonic speeds, struck a military-industrial complex in Dnipro, Ukraine. Putin stated that this was a strategic move to test the new system under combat conditions, highlighting its success and warning of future uses.
Warnings and Implications
Putin assured that future strikes involving the ’Oreshnik’ would be preceded by warnings to allow civilian evacuation, underscoring a humanitarian consideration despite the military intent.
This policy, however, does not mitigate the stark warning to nations supporting Ukraine militarily, as Putin made it clear that Russia considers itself entitled to retaliate against any country whose weapons are used against Russian interests.
International Reactions
The international community, mainly NATO members, are on high alert following these developments. Western officials have responded quickly, with some questioning the accuracy of claims regarding Oreshnik’s capabilities and others urging for de-escalation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the missile strike as a ”severe escalation” and a violation of international norms. He argued that Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons is justified under international law for self-defence, calling for a robust response from the global community.
Experts are divided on the implications of Russia’s latest moves. While some see it as a direct challenge to NATO’s resolve, others interpret it as a strategic display of military might to deter further Western intervention.
The deployment of the ’Oreshnik’ system also signals Russia’s ongoing investment in advanced weaponry. President Putin’s speech and the subsequent actions underscore a potential shift towards more direct confrontations with countries backing Ukraine.
Sources
- BBC: Putin warns West as Russia hits Ukraine with ’new missile’
- AP: Putin touts Russia’s new missile and delivers a menacing warning to NATO
- Rolling Stone: Putin Rattles Nuclear Saber With Unprecedented Strike on Ukraine
- Reuters: Putin says Ukraine war is going global
- The Guardian: Putin says Russia fired experimental ballistic missile into Ukraine
- RT: Russia has fired its new ‘Oreshnik’ hypersonic ballistic missile – Putin
- RT: Putin warns of retaliation against countries providing weapons to strike Russia
- RT: A new hypersonic missile, conflict escalation and a warning for NATO: What you need to know from Putin’s latest address
