KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental hypersonic ballistic missile, escalating the nearly 33-month war.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday that the conflict had “entered a decisive stage” and was “in a very dramatic phase.”
Ukraine's parliament has suspended its session as security has been tightened following Thursday's Russian attack on military facilities in the city of Dnipropetrovsk.
In a stern warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised address to the nation that the attack with medium-range Oleshnik missiles was a stern warning to the West that Kiev had used long-range missiles from the United States and Britain, which could strike deeper. He said it was in retaliation. territory of Russia.
President Putin said Western air defense systems were not capable of stopping the new missile.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov maintained a belligerent tone on Friday, condemning the “reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying Ukraine with weapons to attack Russia.
“The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities and the contours of further retaliatory measures if our concerns are not taken into account are also very clear.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is widely seen as having the closest relationship with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Kremlin claims, saying that the United States could not use U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine. He suggested that direct involvement was likely necessary.
“These are rockets that are launched and guided to their targets via electronic systems, and they require the world's most advanced technology and satellite communication capabilities,” Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on state radio. “There is a strong belief that these missiles cannot be guided without the support of American personnel.”
Prime Minister Orban warned against underestimating Russia's response and stressed that recent amendments to the country's nuclear doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It's not a trick… there will be consequences,” he said.
Separately in Kiev, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said Thursday's missile attack was “an escalating step and an attempt by the Russian dictator to scare the Ukrainian people and the European people.” .
At a press conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sibikha, Lipavsky also expressed full support for providing additional air defense systems needed to protect Ukrainian civilians from “heinous attacks.” .
He stressed that the Czech Republic will not impose any restrictions on the use of weapons and equipment provided to Ukraine.
Three members of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada have confirmed that a meeting scheduled for Friday has been canceled due to the continuing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kiev.
In addition, “there was also a recommendation to restrict the activities of all commercial offices and non-governmental organizations on its borders, and local residents were warned about the growing threat,” said Mikita Poturayev, a lawmaker, adding that such measures He added that this is not the first time. I received threats.
President Volodymyr Zelensky's office continues to operate according to standard security measures, the spokesperson said.
Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oleshnik missile, whose name means “hazelnut tree” in Russian, was launched from the Kapustin Yar 4 missile test site in Russia's Astrakhan region and landed in Dnipro 15 minutes later. announced that it had flown before. The missile was equipped with six non-nuclear warheads, each carrying six submunitions, and could reach a speed of Mach 11.
Similar missile tests were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the agency said.
The Pentagon confirmed that the Russian missile is a new experimental medium-range missile based on the RS-26 Lubezh intercontinental ballistic missile.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia attacked residential areas in Sumy overnight with Iranian-designed Shahed drones, killing two people and injuring 13 others, the regional administration said.
Ukraine's Suspirin media quoted Sumy regional chief Volodymyr Artyuv as saying the drone was loaded with debris. “These weapons are used to destroy people, not objects,” Artyuk said, according to Suspline.
