Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday promised more combat tests of an experimental hypersonic missile fired over Ukraine, while Volodymyr Zelensky appealed for updated air-defense systems to deal with the new threat.
The leaders’ latest statements came hours after Ukraine’s parliament was closed due to fears of a missile attack.
A day after Moscow fired a new missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, Putin said there would be more tests of the new Oreshnik missile.
“Depending on the situation and nature of the security threats posed to Russia, we will continue these tests, including in combat conditions,” Putin said in a televised meeting with military chiefs.
He said that Russia will also start mass production of the new weapon.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday he was already looking to his allies for updated air-defense systems in response to the new threat.
Earlier on Friday, China’s Foreign Ministry reiterated its call for “calm” and “restraint” in the war after Russia confirmed it had fired a new ballistic missile.
However, in his video address, Zelensky said: “On Russia’s part, this is 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 weaponry onto the battlefield has further heightened tensions in the nearly three-year-long war, and comes as Kiev’s forces are struggling on the ground.
On Friday, Russia claimed to have captured another village in eastern Ukraine.
Putin’s indications of attack on Western countries on Thursday have increased the possibility of the war turning into a global conflict.
This caused the Russian ruble to fall to its lowest level against the US dollar since March 2022 on Friday.
In a fiery address to the nation on Thursday, Putin said that Russia reserved the right to fire missiles at countries that allow Kiev to arm them, after the United States and Britain gave Kiev the green light to do so. Allow us to attack Russian territory.
Those attacks could be from the new Orasonic missile.
Experts believe it flies at 10 times the speed of sound and may be capable of striking targets up to 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles) away – echoing Putin’s threats to target Kiev’s European allies. Enough to deal with, but not enough to reach the United States.
‘Russian Madness’
Calling the attack “this latest bout of Russian madness”, Zelensky on Friday urged Ukraine’s allies to step up the provision of air defence.
“Whatever the Russian missile threat is, it cannot be ignored,” the president said, “especially when Ukraine’s military is on the backfoot.”
A Ukrainian military source said Russian forces were advancing “200-300 meters per day” near Kurakhov, the besieged Ukrainian logistics center in the eastern Donetsk region, which the Kremlin claims is part of Russia.
In Moscow, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said Russia’s advance in war-torn eastern Ukraine had “destroyed” Kiev’s best units.
Russia also said its forces had “liberated” the border village of Novodmitrievka, about 10 kilometers north of Kurakhov.
‘Anything can happen’
In Kiev, which is frequently targeted by Russian drones and missiles, parliament canceled its usual Friday questions to the government due to fears of an attack.
Many lawmakers said they were working remotely and Friday’s session was canceled. Lawmaker Yevgeniya Kravchuk told AFP there were signs of “increased threats of attacks” in the future.
Unlike the rest of the capital, the Government District has so far been spared from bombing.
Analysts say Moscow and Kiev are racing to gain battlefield advantages ahead of January 2025, when Donald Trump is due to take office in the United States. Trump has vowed to end the war without even declaring it.
Thursday’s Oreshnik 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 shocked the residents of Dnipro, who faced regular Russian bombardment throughout the invasion.
Yan Valetov, a writer from the area, said he had heard a very “loud roar” and “a series of explosions”.
The roof of the boiler room supplying heating to the rehabilitation center was completely collapsed by the blast wave, while debris and tiles were scattered around.
Boiler room worker Oleksandr Parkhomenko, 63, said he was relieved the missile caused few casualties, but he was worried about what might happen next.
“Anything can happen,” he said.
Supporters of President Vladimir Putin on the streets of Moscow expressed confidence in Russia’s victory.
“Russia will overcome everything… no one can defeat it,” said Alexei Peshcherkin, a 57-year-old plumber.
But Dr Yulia Kim, 52, said: “I’m worried that a nuclear war will start.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
