"New Missile Model, Response to Reckless Actions by the West"

Russia stated on the 21st (local time) that the launch of the new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) "Oreshnik" (Hazel) at Ukraine was a response to the West's "reckless" decisions and actions.

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia / Photo by Yonhap News

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said at a briefing that day, "The key message is that Russia's response inevitably follows the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries that produce missiles, supply them to Ukraine, and participate in attacks on Russian territory."

The day before, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in a national address that in response to the use of long-range weapons by the United States and the United Kingdom, Russia launched the latest hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile named Oreshnik at Ukraine. This was in response to Ukraine striking the Russian mainland with Western-made long-range missiles such as ATACMS and Storm Shadow.

President Putin warned, "The strike targets for additional tests of the latest missile systems will be determined based on assessments of threats to Russia's security," and indicated that retaliatory attacks could be carried out against Western countries supplying weapons to Ukraine.

Spokesperson Peskov explained, "Russia has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and if our concerns are not taken into account, we have also very clearly outlined additional retaliatory measures."

He added that there had been no contact with the U.S. government following the launch of the Oreshnik missile, stating, "Yesterday's (President Putin's) statement was very complete, easy to understand, and logical, so I have no doubt that the U.S. government could understand it." He also criticized the Biden administration for preferring to continue escalating the conflict.

Regarding President Putin's mention the day before that civilians in Ukraine would be able to evacuate before operations such as the Oreshnik missile launch, Peskov only said, "Our military will issue warnings in a way that civilians can receive the information."

Additionally, when asked whether the U.S. sanctioning of Gazprombank the previous day was perceived as an attempt to disrupt Russian gas supplies to Europe, Peskov replied, "Yes," and stated that Russia plans to take countermeasures.