By Nakiwala Barbra
Russian President Vladimir Putin has revealed that Russia deployed a new intermediate-range ballistic missile in an attack on Ukraine. In a surprise address, Putin claimed the strike was a response to Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied long-range weaponry, including systems provided by the United States and the United Kingdom.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the missile targeted infrastructure in Dnipro, an eastern city critical to Ukraine’s logistics and energy network. Zelensky described the weapon as a “new Russian rocket,” suggesting it shares characteristics with an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
The assault left Dnipro shaken by hours of explosions early Wednesday, though exact details about the extent of damage remain unclear. Ukrainian officials suggest the missile targeted infrastructure essential to the war effort.
Russia’s deployment of this new missile marks a sharp escalation in its military tactics, raising concerns about the introduction of advanced weaponry in the conflict. Meanwhile, Western officials are evaluating how this development impacts Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive and regional stability.
