Russia tests new ballistic missile, says Putin

In a video address released Thursday evening, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the country had tested its latest medium-range ballistic missile, named “Oreshnik.” According to Putin, the missile was used to strike a defense facility in Dnipro, Ukraine, with a non-nuclear warhead. He claimed that no current air defense systems could intercept the missile.

Putin described the test as a response to Ukraine’s recent attacks on Russian territory, specifically in the Bryansk and Kursk regions, using US-made ATACMS and French-British Storm Shadow missiles. He also framed the missile’s deployment as a reaction to US plans to produce and station medium- and short-range missiles, suggesting a heightening of tensions in the ongoing conflict. The Russian leader warned that US air defense systems wouldn’t be capable of intercepting Russian missiles.

Ukraine stated earlier on Thursday that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile overnight at one of its cities, but American officials said an initial US assessment indicated the strike was carried out with an intermediate-range ballistic missile.