Putin admits striking Ukraine with new type of ballistic missile

Today Vladimir Putin gave an unscheduled live address to the nation. He claimed that on Nov. 19, six ATACMS missiles — and on Nov. 21, several Storm Shadow missiles — had been used by Ukraine for strikes against targets in Russia’s Kursk and Bryansk regions.

According to Putin, Russia retaliated on Nov. 21 with a combined strike against a Ukrainian defense industry facility. In addition, “a field test was conducted in combat conditions” for one of Russia's newest medium-range weapon systems: a nuclear-free hypersonic ballistic missile. “Our engineers named it 'Oreshnik' [‘Hazel’],” Putin declared with a smile.

Putin said Russia is within its rights to use ballistic missiles against “Ukraine's military targets” and to use weapons against military facilities of those countries that have authorized the use of their weapons against Russia.

Earlier today, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was audibly instructed — in the middle of a press briefing — to stay silent on the ICBM attack. Zakharova picked up a call while live on air, with the voice on the other end telling her “not to comment at all.” When asked by The Insider as to who gave her the instruction, Zakharova described the figure as a “God-level expert.”

In all likelihood, the strike in question was carried out against Ukraine’s Pivdennyi Machine-Building Plant (Pivdenmash). This Dnipro-based defense enterprise produces rocket and space equipment. As the AFU Air Force reported, the attack involved the use of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

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• Russian MFA spokeswoman says “God-level expert” ordered her to stay silent on reported ICBM strike in Ukraine’s Dnipro