Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had struck Ukraine with a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, days after Kyiv used Western-supplied weapons to target locations inside Russia, reported <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4n9vgwnnyo">BBC News</a>.
The attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, which took place on Thursday morning, had sparked hours of speculation about the weapon used.
In a surprise national address, Putin confirmed that the missile, capable of reaching speeds of “2.5-3 km per second,” was a “new” intermediate-range ballistic missile, codenamed Oreshnik.
This contradicted Ukraine’s earlier claims, with President Zelensky and the foreign ministry alleging the attack was carried out by an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), a claim that US officials quickly dismissed.
Had it been an ICBM, it would have marked the first use of such a missile in the war.
Putin said that the missile strike was a direct response to Ukraine’s use of US and UK long-range weapons, including ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles, which were recently authorised for use in Ukraine’s military operations.
He warned that Russia could target military facilities in the US and UK that allowed their weapons to be used against Russia.
The Russian leader also issued a stark warning to the West, stating that Moscow was “ready for any developments.”
The Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, confirmed that the US had been notified “briefly” via Nuclear Risk Reduction channels, which are typically used for missile launch notifications.
Putin revealed that a test of a non-nuclear hypersonic version of the missile had been successful, with the target reached.
He claimed there was no way to counter such a weapon, which can strike at speeds of 10 Mach (around 2.5-3 km/s).
Putin concluded his statement with a warning to the West: “If anyone still doubts this, they shouldn’t. There will always be a response.”
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Putin said Russia used a new missile in Ukraine. It was not an intercontinental missile like Ukraine claimed. Putin warned to hit US and UK targets if they help Ukraine. US was notified of the missile test. The missile can't be stopped and is very fast. Putin warned the West to be ready for a response. He tested a successful non-nuclear hypersonic version of the missile. Putin said there will always be a response to any doubts from the West.

Putin Confirms Use Of New Missile In Ukraine, Threatens To Hit Targets In US, UK

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at the city of Dnipro, which, if confirmed, would be the first use of such a weapon in any armed conflict.
Western officials, as reported by ABC News, questioned this claim, suggesting that the missile was actually a shorter-range ballistic missile, similar to those previously used by Russia in the war against Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s air force, nine projectiles were launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region at Dnipro between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. local time. The missile is believed to have travelled about 500 miles (800 km) to reach its target.
The missile reportedly hit its target “without consequences,” though there were no immediate reports of casualties. Six of the nine projectiles were intercepted by Ukraine’s air defence systems.
Russian ICBMs have a range of over 6,200 miles, capable of reaching targets as far as the U.S. east coast.
These weapons are also capable of carrying nuclear warheads, which could make such a launch a symbolic or strategic signal from Moscow, though it has not been officially confirmed, reported <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/21/russia-fired-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-at-dnipro-says-ukraine">The Guardian</a>.
Russia has not acknowledged the use of an ICBM and did not mention it in its daily military briefing.
However, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova appeared to inadvertently reference the missile strike in a phone conversation caught on a hot mic, where an unidentified caller instructed her not to comment “on the ballistic missile strike”. The caller did not use the word intercontinental.
Under an agreement between the U.S. and Russia signed in 2000, each side is supposed to notify the other 24 hours in advance of any missile launch exceeding 500 km. It is unclear whether Russia followed this protocol.
Pavel Podvig, an expert on Russian nuclear weapons, warned that there wasn’t enough information to confirm whether the missile was an ICBM.
He suggested that while using an ICBM in a military context may not make sense due to its high cost and low accuracy, it could serve as a political or strategic signal.
The U.S. and UK have permitted longer-range missiles, like the Atacms and Storm Shadow, to be used against targets in or near Russia’s Kursk region, a development that Russia has warned it would respond to “accordingly.”
The U.S. embassy in Kyiv temporarily closed after receiving a warning of a “potential significant air attack.” The closure was linked to increased concerns over Russia’s missile activities, particularly ICBM threats.
Early reports from Dnipro suggested damage to an industrial enterprise and two fires in the city. Civilian impact remains limited, though full details have not been confirmed.
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Russia fired a big missile at a city in Ukraine. Some say it was a long-range missile, but others think it was a short one. The missile hit the city, but no one got hurt. Ukraine stopped some of the missiles with their defense systems. Russia did not admit to using a big missile. Some people think firing the big missile was just a message, not a real attack. The US and UK have also used long-range missiles near Russia. The US embassy in Ukraine closed because of fears of more missile attacks. Damage was seen in the city, but no details are confirmed yet.

Ukraine Claims Russia Fired Intercontinental Ballistic Missile At Eastern City

China has reported the successful launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean.
The Chinese defence ministry said that the ICBM was launched at 08:44 local time on Wednesday and “fell into expected sea areas,” describing the test as “routine” and part of its “annual training.”
While the specific type of missile and its flight path remains unclear, Chinese state media indicated that Beijing had “informed the countries concerned in advance.”
An ICBM is a long-range missile designed to deliver nuclear or conventional warheads over distances typically greater than 5,500 kilometers.
ICBMs can be launched from silos, mobile platforms, or submarines, and follow a high-arcing trajectory that takes them into space before descending towards their target.
According to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gl843l90zo">BBC</a>, typically, China’s nuclear weapon tests occur domestically, with previous ICBM launches directed westward into the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang region.
This launch is believed to mark the first time since 1980 that an ICBM has been fired into international waters.
Ankit Panda, a nuclear weapons specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, commented on X:
<blockquote>
Unless I’m missing something, I think this is essentially the first time this has happened – and been announced as such – in a long time.
</blockquote>
He added that Beijing’s characterisation of the test as “routine” and “annual” was unusual, “considering that they don’t typically conduct such launches either routinely or annually.”
Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters on Wednesday that China had provided no prior notice of the ICBM launch.
Japan’s defence ministry had earlier said that there was no damage to its vessels as a result of the incident. It said:
<blockquote>
We will continue to collect and analyse information on the movements of the Chinese military and will take all possible precautions in our vigilance and monitoring.
</blockquote>
The last time China conducted such a test—in May 1980—the ICBM traveled 9,070 km before landing in the Pacific Ocean. That launch involved 18 Chinese naval ships and remains one of China’s largest naval operations to date.
Drew Thompson, a visiting research fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, commented on X:
<blockquote>
Timing is everything. [China’s] statement claims the launch does not target any country, but there are high levels of tension between China and Japan, the Philippines, and of course perpetual tension with Taiwan.
The launch is a powerful signal intended to intimidate everyone.
</blockquote>
John Ridge, a U.S.-based defense analyst, suggested that China may have conducted the test as a form of “posturing or signaling to the United States.”
Although relations between Beijing and Washington have improved over the past year, China’s growing assertiveness in the region continues to be a contentious issue.
Tensions have escalated between China and the Philippines due to repeated collisions between their ships in disputed waters.
Japan recently scrambled fighter jets in response to a Chinese spy plane allegedly breaching its airspace, which it deemed “utterly unacceptable.”
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China recently tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by launching it into the Pacific Ocean. An ICBM is a long-range missile that can carry nuclear or non-nuclear warheads over long distances. This test is the first time China has fired an ICBM into international waters since 1980. The launch was unexpected and may be a signal to intimidate other countries. Tensions have increased between China and Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan. This test may be China's way of sending a message to the United States and showing its strength in the region.

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