The Kremlin confirmed on Friday that it planned the recent attack on Ukraine, using a newly developed hypersonic ballistic missile, to send a message to the West. According to Moscow, the action is a response to the “reckless decisions and actions” of Western countries that provide military support to Kiev.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had fired the new missile, dubbed Oreshnik (or Hazel Tree), at a Ukrainian military facility. President Vladimir Putin gave details of the launch a day earlier.
“The main message is that the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries, which produce and supply missiles to Ukraine, cannot go unanswered. Peskov said that the Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities and outlined the lines of its future actions if its concerns are ignored.
Warning to the US and escalation of conflict
Peskov stressed that Russia had no obligation to inform the United States about the strike, but notified Washington 30 minutes before it was launched. Despite this, he accused the Biden administration of opting for escalation of the conflict rather than dialogue.
Putin said on Thursday that the launch of the new missile was a direct response to Ukraine's use of advanced weapons, including US-made ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles. He said the war had now acquired "elements of a global character."
International Reaction
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the use of the new missile as “a clear and severe escalation” in the conflict and called on the international community to strongly condemn Russia’s action.
Source: Dmitry Antonov | Notícias Agrícolas
