In a dramatic escalation of the 33-month-old war, Russia launched an experimental ballistic missile strike on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday. The attack, which Russian President Vladimir Putin said was in response to the US and UK allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory with advanced Western weapons, marks a new phase in the grinding conflict that has devastated Ukraine since 2022.
Putin Warns of More Strikes as Ukraine Decries “Severe Escalation”
In an unannounced televised address to the nation, Putin confirmed Russia fired a new ballistic missile known as “Oreshnik” (hazel) at a Ukrainian military facility. He issued an apparent threat to Western countries supporting Ukraine, stating Moscow “had the right” to strike those providing Kyiv with weapons used against Russian targets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as “a clear and severe escalation” in the war. He called for strong worldwide condemnation, warning that a lack of tough global reaction sends a message that such Russian behavior is acceptable.
“The world must respond,” Zelenskyy said. “Right now, there is no strong reaction from the world … A lack of tough reactions to Russia’s actions sends a message that such behaviour is acceptable.”
Ukraine Parliament Postpones Sitting Amid Security Concerns
The attack prompted Ukraine’s parliament to postpone a sitting planned for Friday due to security concerns. Public broadcaster Suspilne reported the decision, quoting sources saying the order told members to keep their families out of Kyiv’s government district. Parliamentarians indicated the next sitting was not yet rescheduled.
Russia Notifies US Before Strike, Tensions Mount
According to US officials, Russia notified Washington shortly before the strike. One official said the US had briefed Kyiv and allies to prepare for the possible use of such a weapon. Regional tensions have spiked in recent days, with Ukraine firing US and British missiles at targets inside Russia despite Moscow’s warnings it would consider such actions a major escalation.
Confusion Over Missile Type as NATO Echoes Putin
Initially, Ukraine suggested Russia fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), a weapon designed for long-distance nuclear strikes and never before used in war. However, US officials and NATO echoed Putin’s description of the weapon as an intermediate-range ballistic missile, which has a shorter range of 3,000-5,500km.
International Community Reacts
The international community swiftly condemned the attack. A NATO spokesperson said Russia was seeking to “terrorize” civilians and intimidate Ukraine’s allies, but stressed it would not deter NATO’s support for Ukraine. UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s spokesperson called the missile strike “yet another concerning and worrying development,” urging all parties to de-escalate and protect civilians.
As the war continues to escalate with no end in sight, the world watches anxiously to see how this latest provocation will impact the trajectory of the conflict. Will it spur stronger global action against Russia, or push the adversaries closer to a full-scale confrontation with unthinkable consequences? The coming days and weeks may provide the answer.
