On Thursday (21), Russia launched what authorities in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, said was an intercontinental ballistic missile towards the southeast of the country, but Putin, the Russian president, stated that his country launched “an experimental medium-range ballistic missile against Ukraine” near Dnipro.
Putin, in comments on Thursday after the missile launch, said that Russia has the right to use its weapons against the military facilities of countries that employ their weapons against Russia.
“We consider ourselves authorized to use our weapons against military objects of those countries that allow the use of their own weapons against our objects. In the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond decisively and in a mirrored manner,” said Putin.
The front lines in Ukraine are “less stable” than at any time since the early stages of Russia’s large-scale invasion more than a thousand days ago, warned the UK Defense Intelligence.
In an intelligence update on Thursday, the agency stated: “Russian territorial advances in Ukraine have accelerated in 2024,” bolstered by the “tolerance of Russian leadership for casualties” and having more troops at its disposal than the Ukrainian military.
The Biden administration recently approved the sending of landmines to Ukraine, in a significant policy shift aimed at reinforcing Ukraine’s front lines.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told reporters that the decision was motivated by changes in Russia’s tactics on the front lines.
Source: CNN