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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday pledged to conduct more combat tests of an experimental hypersonic missile fired over Ukraine, as Vladimir Zelensky called for an update to air defense systems to deal with the new threat.
The latest statements from the leaders came hours after Ukraine’s parliament was shut down over fears of a missile attack.
A day after Moscow fired a new missile over the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, Putin said more tests of the new Oryshank missile would be conducted.
“We will continue these experiments, including in war situations, depending on the situation and nature of security threats to Russia,” Putin said in a televised meeting with military chiefs.
He added that Russia will also start serial production of new weapons.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said on Friday that he was already seeking updated air defense systems ahead of his allies in response to the new threat.
Earlier on Friday, China’s Foreign Ministry reiterated calls for “calm” and “restraint” in the war after Russia confirmed it had fired new ballistic missiles.
However, in his video address, Zelensky said: “From Russia’s side, it makes a mockery of the position of states like China, states of the Global South, some leaders who call for restraint every time.”
Missile threat
The introduction of the new weapon on the battlefield has further escalated tensions in the nearly three-year-old war and comes as Kiev’s forces struggle on the ground.
On Friday, Russia claimed another village in eastern Ukraine.
Putin’s hint of attacks on Western countries on Thursday raised fears that the war could spill over into a global conflict.
That sent the Russian ruble to its lowest level against the US dollar since March 2022 on Friday.
In a surprise address to the nation on Thursday, Putin said Russia reserved the right to fire missiles at countries that consider Kiev to be Russian territory, after the United States and Britain gave Kiev the green light to do so. allow them to target with their weapons.
These attacks may be carried out by the new Orshank missile.
Experts believe it can fly at 10 times the speed of sound and could be able to hit targets up to 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles) away – in line with Putin’s threats to target Kiev’s European allies. Enough to make ends meet but not enough to reach America.
‘Russian Madness’
Calling the strike “the latest bout of Russian insanity,” Zelensky on Friday urged Ukraine’s allies to increase their air defense provision.
“Whatever the Russian missile threat is, it cannot be ignored,” the president added — especially with Ukraine’s military on the back foot.
A Ukrainian military source said Russian forces were advancing “200-300 meters per day” near the besieged Ukrainian logistics hub of Korakho in the eastern Donetsk region, which the Kremlin claims is part of Russia.
In Moscow, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov said Russia’s advance into war-torn eastern Ukraine had “underwhelmed” Kiev’s best units.
Russia also said its forces had “liberated” the front-line village of Novodmitryuka, about 10 kilometers north of Kurakhov.
‘Anything Can Happen’
In Kiev, often targeted by Russian drones and missiles, parliament canceled its routine questions to the government on Friday amid fears of a strike.
Several MPs said they were working remotely and Friday’s session was cancelled. Lawmaker Eugenia Kravchuk told AFP there were signs of “increasing risks of attacks” to come.
Unlike the rest of the capital, the government district has so far been spared from the bombings.
Analysts say Moscow and Kiev are racing to gain battlefield advantages before January 2025, when Donald Trump is slated to take office in the United States. Trump has vowed to end the war without saying how.
Thursday’s Oryshank missile attack, which apparently targeted an aerospace manufacturing plant in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, drew immediate condemnation from Kiev’s allies.
It also traumatized residents of Dnipro, which has been subject to routine Russian bombardment throughout the invasion.
Yan Velitov, a writer from the area, said he heard “loud thunder” and “a series of explosions”.
The roof of the boiler room, which supplies heating to the rehabilitation center, was completely collapsed by the blast wave, while rubble and tiles were scattered underfoot.
Boiler room worker Oleksandr Parkkhomenko, 63, said he was relieved the missile had caused so few casualties, but worried about what might happen next.
“Anything can happen,” he said.
In the streets of Moscow, supporters of President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence in Russia’s victory.
“Russia will overcome everything … nobody can defeat it,” said 57-year-old plumber Alexey Peshcharkin.
But Dr Yulia Kim, 52, said: “I fear nuclear war will break out”.
(Other than the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
