Ukraine alleges Russia’s use of the 9M729 missile, the weapon that once broke the INF Treaty and reignited global arms control concerns (Photo: X | @Recon_surv)
Ukraine and Russia as Kyiv accuses Moscow of deploying the 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile, a weapon once at the center of a major U.S.-Russia arms control dispute.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Russia’s use of this missile shows complete disregard for international arms control norms, reigniting memories of the 2019 collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
Ukraine claims that Russian forces have used the 9M729 missile known as SSC-8 by NATO in recent attacks. The same missile led to the U.S. withdrawal from the INF Treaty during Donald Trump’s presidency, after Washington accused Moscow of developing weapons beyond the treaty’s 500-kilometre limit.
Russia had denied the violation but the U.S. formally ended the pact, citing repeated breaches. Kyiv’s new allegations could intensify global scrutiny of Moscow’s military practices amid the ongoing war.
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Amid renewed discussions on Western support, President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine has not used U.S. supplied long-range weapons inside Russia. He said Ukraine’s own systems can strike targets up to 3,000 kilometers away.
During a Brussels press conference, Zelensky urged EU leaders to approve financial aid, asserting that “Russia brought war to our land and they have to pay for this war.”
On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed new U.S. sanctions, claiming they would not significantly impact Russia’s economy. Addressing the Russian Geographical Society, he argued that “no self-respecting country acts under pressure.”
Moscow rejected calls for a ceasefire reportedly made by U.S. President Donald Trump with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterating Russia’s demand for Ukraine’s “nonaligned, nonnuclear status.”
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The 9M729 missile, designed by Russia’s NPO Novator is a road mobile cruise missile capable of carrying either nuclear or conventional warheads. It measures between six and eight meters in length and can deliver a 450-kilogram payload with a range estimated between 1,500 and 2,500 kilometers, the system poses a significant strategic threat across Europe and parts of Asia. Developed in the mid-2000s and first tested in 2014, the missile entered active service in the late 2010s.
The 9M729’s deployment revives the debate over global arms control and the erosion of Cold War-era treaties. The 1987 INF Treaty, signed by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, once eliminated an entire class of nuclear missiles.
Its collapse in 2019 and the renewed appearance of weapons like the 9M729 underscore the fragility of current disarmament frameworks. As the war in Ukraine continues, the reemergence of such systems signals not only heightened military risk but also the fading influence of international arms control norms.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available reports and official statements. No part of this content is intended to spread misinformation.
