Moscow’s use of a new type of Russian medium-range missile in Ukraine and threats of further attacks are “typical blackmail,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in Kiev on Sunday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to deter anyone from supporting Kiev, according to Sybiha.
“Ukraine’s partners should do the exact opposite: reject blackmail, increase support, and strengthen Ukraine’s air shield with systems capable of intercepting such missiles,” the minister wrote on X.
Russia fired the Oreshnik ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday, targeting a defence plant, officials said in Moscow.
The launch followed the decision by Ukraine’s international allies to allow Kiev to use Western-made longer-range missiles to hit targets inside Russia.
Shortly afterwards, Putin announced the serial production of the new missile, which is claimed to be the only one of its type in the world.
According to Moscow, the missile flies at hypersonic speed and cannot be intercepted by air defence systems. This information could not initially be independently confirmed.
