Footage of Russia’s latest missile attack on Ukraine’s Dnipro has surfaced, showcasing the escalating severity of the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin claims the weapon, described as a “new intermediate-range missile,” can travel at speeds of up to 3 kilometers per second.
A Missile That Sends a Message
The strike on Dnipro marks a new chapter in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Putin presenting the missile as a direct response to Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied weaponry. While initial reports suggested the weapon was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), U.S. officials clarified it was not. Instead, Putin boasted about the missile’s advanced speed and claimed it was invulnerable to modern defense systems.
This strike comes amid increasing tensions as Ukraine gains access to long-range weapons like U.S. ATACMS and UK Storm Shadow missiles. For months, Ukraine refrained from targeting Russian territory under the constraints of its Western allies. Now, with those restrictions eased, Ukraine has begun hitting military sites within Russia.
Putin, however, labeled these actions as escalatory, using them as justification for deploying his latest missile. Speaking on Russian TV, he warned Western nations that further support for Ukraine could provoke broader retaliation. He also ominously suggested that Russia might target the military infrastructure of nations supplying arms to Ukraine.
The missile reportedly struck Dnipro’s Yuzhmash plant, taking less than five minutes to travel 790 kilometers—a chilling demonstration of Russia’s military capabilities. While Putin claimed future strikes would come with “humanitarian” warnings, this hollow gesture has done little to mask the destruction wrought by his invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, emphasizing the toll it takes on civilian lives and the ongoing destabilization of the region. As tensions grow, the world watches anxiously, aware of the far-reaching implications of this escalating conflict.
The Kremlin’s message is clear: it seeks to intimidate its adversaries. Whether these provocations will strengthen Ukraine’s resolve or lead to broader international consequences remains to be seen.
