Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday (November 21) that Moscow had launched a hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile attack on a Ukrainian military facility, warning Western nations that Russia could target military installations of any country whose weapons are used against it.
Putin accused the West of escalating the conflict in Ukraine by supplying Kyiv with long-range missiles, claiming the war is evolving into a global conflict.
In retaliation, Russia has conducted combat tests of its “Oreshnik” hypersonic missile system in Ukraine, Putin stated.
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King Putin Issues Statement and warning
Putin says a successful test of Oreshnik hypersonic MRBM was conducted on a target in Ukraine
Says NATO has no weapon system which can intercept these new russian missiles 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/p9oSXhB0kc
— Woke Eminent (@WokePandemic) November 21, 2024
“In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons, on November 21 of this year, the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the facilities of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine,” Putin said in a surprise address broadcast on state television.
Outgoing US President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to use the missiles to strike Russian territory earlier this week, following months of requests from Kyiv.
“In combat conditions, one of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems was tested, among other things. In this case, with a ballistic missile in a nuclear-free hypersonic equipment,” he added.
Hypersonic missiles are projectiles that can travel at five times the speed of sound.
Ukrainian missile “repelled”, Putin claims
Putin also asserted that recent Ukrainian missile strikes on Russian territory, carried out with Western-supplied weapons, were successfully repelled by Russian air-defense systems.
“Our air-defense systems repelled these attacks,” Putin said. “The goals that the enemy obviously set were not achieved.”
The Kremlin leader further warned that the conflict had taken on “elements of a global character” and emphasized that Moscow was prepared for “any scenario” in its confrontation with Kyiv and the West.
“In the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond just as decisively […] If anyone doubts that, they are wrong. There will always be a response,” Putin added.
