Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, was interrupted mid-briefing by a phone call from “higher-ups,” instructing her to avoid commenting on an alleged intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) strike. The moment, caught on live TV, has sparked global discussions, with the video rapidly gaining traction on social media.
The press conference came after Ukraine accused Russia of firing an ICBM at Dnipro, reportedly targeting Yuzhmash, an aerospace manufacturer now known as Pivdenmash. Russian military bloggers suggested the strike was intentional, while officials remained silent on the matter.
In a theatrical presentation likely designed to strike fear into the hearts of naive western politicians, in effort to tie Putin himself to last night’s intercontinental missile strike on Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova allegedly receives a call… pic.twitter.com/hYUGSgWLZt
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) November 21, 2024
The unidentified caller, addressing Zakharova as “Masha,” explicitly instructed her to avoid any remarks. “On the ‘Yuzhmash’ ballistic missile strike that the Westerners have started talking about, we are not commenting at all,” the male voice said.
This incident coincides with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent amendments to the country’s nuclear doctrine. The revised policy states that an attack by a non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear ally will be treated as a joint assault on Russia.
European military experts have described the alleged ICBM launch as a “threatening gesture,” possibly in response to the lifting of restrictions on Ukraine’s access to long-range weapons like ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles.
Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) are primarily designed to carry nuclear warheads but can also be equipped with conventional payloads. They serve as a strategic deterrence tool in global conflicts. The RS-26 Rubezh, reportedly used in this instance, is a solid-fuel ICBM with a range of 5,800 km, capable of significant destruction.
The alleged missile launch marks the 1,000th day of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with both sides ramping up the use of long-range weaponry. Leaders worldwide have called for diplomacy, but recent escalations suggest an intensification of hostilities rather than a resolution.
