MOSCOW, November 22, 2024 – President Vladimir Putin has warned that the war in Ukraine is escalating towards a global conflict after Ukraine used U.S. and British-made missiles to strike Russian targets, a move that he claimed has drawn the West deeper into the war.
In a televised address, Putin stated that Russia had responded to these attacks by launching a new type of hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile, known as “Oreshnik,” at a Ukrainian military facility in the city of Dnipro.
The missile struck a missile and space rocket company, Pivdenmash, which Putin described as a success.
He further warned that more strikes could follow, and civilians would be alerted ahead of any further missile attacks.
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Despite claims by the Ukrainian military that these missiles caused significant damage, Putin dismissed their effectiveness, particularly the ATACMS strike, which he said did not cause serious harm.
However, he confirmed that the Storm Shadow attack in the Kursk region had resulted in casualties, including deaths and injuries.
Putin characterized the conflict in Ukraine as initially a regional issue provoked by Western actions but now taking on the characteristics of a global war due to the increasing involvement of the U.S. and the UK.
He accused the United States of pushing the world toward a broader conflict and emphasized that any further escalation from the West would provoke a “mirror” response from Russia.
Regarding Russia’s military operations, Putin highlighted that the country currently controls significant portions of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and areas of the Donbas, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.
He reiterated Russia’s position that the invasion was an attempt to reclaim what it considers sovereign Russian land.
Putin also criticized the U.S. for unilaterally withdrawing from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019, accusing Washington of a “mistake” that has led to the current missile developments.
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He noted that Russia had imposed a moratorium on developing previously banned missiles and warned that the country’s future actions would depend on the West’s actions, particularly regarding missile deployments in Europe and the Far East.
Putin’s remarks underline the growing concern over the widening scope of the conflict, with rising fears that the war in Ukraine could have increasingly global ramifications as Western powers continue their support for Ukraine.