Putin says Russia Has Right To Hit States Supplying Weapons To Ukraine To Attack Moscow

Following a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, stated on Thursday that Russia has the "right" to target and hit military facilities in countries supplying weapons to Ukraine for attacks on Moscow. 

Describing the strike as a response to Kyiv’s recent use of long-range U.S. and British missiles in attacks on Russia, Putin confirmed that the strike on Dnipro involved a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, dubbed “Oreshnik” (Russian for “hazel”), and warned that the weapon could be deployed against nations enabling Kyiv’s missile operations. 

During his televised address, Putin pledged that Russia would provide advance warnings for future strikes involving this missile to allow civilian evacuations, AP reports.

He also claimed U.S. air defence systems would be ineffective against Russia’s missiles.

The strike on Dnipro reportedly hit a missile factory, injuring two people and damaging a rehabilitation center and an industrial facility, according to Ukrainian officials. 

The Ukrainian Air Force stated the missile was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region near the Caspian Sea.