Putin warns the West that a ‘new missile’ has been fired.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his forces attacked the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday morning using “a new conventional intermediate-range missile”.

He said the missile, codenamed Orshank, was a response to Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles by the United States and Britain to hit targets inside Russia.

Putin added that Russia could attack the military installations of countries that allowed their weapons to be used for this purpose.

The US and UK this week authorized the use of US ATACMS and UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, in a major policy shift.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia’s use of the new missile was a “clear and sharp increase in the scale and brutality of this war.”

“[This] This is further proof that Russia has no interest in peace. He wrote on X, He added: “Putin is not only prolonging the war, he is spitting in the face of those in the world who genuinely want to restore peace.”

Zielinski previously said the missile had the characteristics of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), even though Western officials have cast doubt on that theory.

Meanwhile, the U.S. National Security Council said “an experimental medium-range ballistic missile” had been used against Ukraine, adding that Russia probably only has a handful of weapons and that it would be a game changer in the war. Will not be.

Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, said the US had been notified “briefly” before the missile was launched through nuclear risk reduction channels – which are used to exchange information on missile launch notifications, among other issues. .

Putin said the non-nuclear hypersonic version of the ballistic missile had been “tested” successfully and had “reached the target”.

“In response to the use of US and British long-range weapons, on November 21 of this year, the Russian Armed Forces launched a joint attack on one of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex sites,” he said.

There is no way to counter the weapon, which hits targets at Mach 10, or 2.5-3km/s, he said.

And he warned the West that Russia was “ready for any development. If anyone still doubts it, they shouldn’t. There will always be an answer”.

Matthew Sewell, director of military sciences at Russian, a think tank, said that available information on Russian missiles suggests that the Iskanders have a longer range than any missile used in the conflict so far, which has a range of 500 km ( 311 miles).

Intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) – which Putin is describing – typically have a range of between 3,000 and 5,500 km.

Savill says the use of such a weapon may not have major military significance, but it is important symbolically, on the back of Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine, which many see as limiting the use of such weapons. See as do.

They say it’s a not-so-subtle reminder that Russia has an extensive arsenal of different and larger missiles and is ready to develop more.

Putin’s announcement comes as the conflict in Ukraine – which marked its 1,000th day on Tuesday – appears to be entering a dangerous new phase.

Last Sunday, US President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to use the Army’s Long-Range Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to launch strikes inside Russia, and two days later, they launched an attack on Russia’s Bryansk region. I was launched.

On Wednesday, Ukraine reported the use of UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets. That same day, Biden also agreed to give Ukraine anti-personnel landmines.

The Western moves were apparently in response to Moscow’s deployment of North Korean troops as it prepares for an offensive aimed at driving Ukrainian troops out of a small enclave in Russia’s Kursk region.

But they come too. Donald Trump is preparing to return to the US presidency. In two months time.

Trump has promised to end America’s involvement in wars and use taxpayer money to improve the lives of Americans. He has said he will end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours, without saying how.

Also this week, Putin – Apparently a reaction to these actions Russia’s relaxation of the terms of its use of nuclear weapons further escalated tensions.

And Russia has stepped up airstrikes against Ukraine’s infrastructure as its ground forces. Continue your advance into eastern Ukraine.