Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow vows to fire more ballistic missiles as Putin hints at striking West

Putin vowed to launch more intermediate-range ballistic missiles targeting Ukraine

Alexander Butler,Vishwam Sankaran,Andy Gregory
Saturday 23 November 2024 09:30 EST
Comments
Related: Vladimir Putin hints at strikes on West

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Moscow has vowed to continue testing experimental hypersonic missiles as Vladimir Putin threatened to strike the West in a coded message.

Putin warned that Russia would continue to carry out tests of the “Oreshnik” intermediate-range ballistic missiles in “combat conditions” following a devastating strike on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation,” the Russian leader said.

He added that Thursday’s attack was a direct response to Ukrainian forces striking Russia with US and British long-range missiles - something Moscow sees as an escalation of the conflict.

“We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities,” he said on Friday.

He claimed the new missile could be fitted with several conventional warheads and could be as devastating as strategic nuclear weapons.

Ukrainian air defence forces said the missile – which has a range of more than 3,400 miles and can be used to carry nuclear warheads – was fired from Russia’s Astrakhan region, on the Caspian Sea.

Despite the Kremlin’s rhetoric, Russian officials notified the United States about Thursday’s attack 30 minutes before launching the missile.

Russia claims advance in eastern Ukraine

Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Friday that its forces had captured the settlement of Novodmytrivka in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, their latest gain in what Defence Minister Andrei Belousov described as an accelerated advance.

Ukraine’s military made no mention of the village, north of the key town of Kurakhove. But in a late night report, the General Staff noted it was among eight villages where Russian forces were engaged in fighting and trying to advance.

Alexander Butler23 November 2024 14:30

North Korean General becomes first high-ranking military official injured in Ukraine

North Korean General becomes first high-ranking military official injured in Ukraine

North Korean general injured as British Storm Shadow missiles hit Kursk in Russia

Alexander Butler23 November 2024 14:00

What do we know about Putin’s ‘experimental’ ballistic missile?

What do we know about Putin’s ‘experimental’ ballistic missile?

The Russian experimental missile could be fitted to carry nuclear warheads, the US Pentagon has warned

Alexander Butler23 November 2024 13:27

The week that upped the stakes of the Ukraine war

The week that upped the stakes of the Ukraine war

This past week has seen the most significant escalation in hostilities Ukraine has witnessed since Russia's full-scale invasion and marks a new chapter in the nearly three-year war

Alexander Butler23 November 2024 13:08

Ukraine has lost over 40 per cent of Russia’s Kursk region

Ukraine has lost over 40 per cent of the territory in Russia’s Kursk region that it rapidly seized in a surprise incursion in August as Russian forces have mounted waves of counter-assaults, a senior Ukrainian military source said.

The source, who is on Ukraine’s General Staff, said Russia had deployed some 59,000 troops to the Kursk region since Kyiv’s forces swept in and advanced swiftly, catching Moscow unprepared 2-1/2 years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometres (531 square miles), now of course this territory is smaller. The enemy is increasing its counterattacks,” the source said.

“Now we control approximately 800 square kilometres (309 square miles). We will hold this territory for as long as is militarily appropriate.”

Alexander Butler23 November 2024 12:35

Nato chief visits Trump at Mar-a-Lago

Nato general secretary Mark Rutte has travelled to Donald Trump’s 126-room gold-encrusted Mar-a-Lago estate to meet with the president-elect.

Mr Rutte met with Trump on Friday 22 November to discuss a “range of global security issues facing the Alliance”, Nato said.

He also met with US Congressman Mike Waltz and other members of the President-elect’s national security team.

During Trump’s first term, he repeatedly said he wanted out of the alliance and complained about the US paying for most of the organisation’s defence.

Trump argued he was sick of European “free-loaders” who were profiting from US protection, despite not living up to the Nato goal of spending 2 per cent of their GDP on defences.

Nato general secretary Mark Rutte has travelled to Donald Trump’s 126-room Mar-a-Lago
Nato general secretary Mark Rutte has travelled to Donald Trump’s 126-room Mar-a-Lago (NATO)
Alexander Butler23 November 2024 12:00

This is no time to surrender to Putin’s rockets – still less his words

This is no time to surrender to Putin’s rockets – still less his words

Editorial: The West can either give the Russian leader what he craves without a fight or it can call his bluff and watch while he does precisely nothing. The Russian leader is a bully – everything he does proves it

Alexander Butler23 November 2024 10:51

Russia claims advance in eastern Ukraine

Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Friday that its forces had captured the settlement of Novodmytrivka in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, their latest gain in what Defence Minister Andrei Belousov described as an accelerated advance.

Ukraine’s military made no mention of the village, north of the key town of Kurakhove. But in a late night report, the General Staff noted it was among eight villages where Russian forces were engaged in fighting and trying to advance.

Alexander Butler23 November 2024 10:17

From Poland’s ‘iron dome’ to boots on the ground: How Europe is preparing for a Third World War

More than 900 miles from London, frenetic activity is underway in the countryside of Poland, Finland, and the Baltic States: bulldozers and diggers are constructing field defences. Anti-tank ditches, tank traps, and pillboxes are being built and installed. In all these countries, laying minefields – even controversial anti-personnel minefields – is under active consideration.

Poland is spending at least €2.5bn (£2.1bn) on its border defence system, including building a sky shield system akin to Israel’s “Iron Dome” to protect its eastern border from a growing threat from Russia.

Meanwhile, in response to the “hybrid war” tactics on several Baltic fronts, hundreds of millions of euros are being invested by the Baltic states to strengthen their defence lines with another major project, planned by Nato members Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, set to begin in 2025.

And what is the UK’s response to an increasing global threat? The country is scrapping £500m worth of military equipment – ships, drones, and helicopters – and will conduct a strategic defence review to decide what to do next.

Francis Tusa has more analysis here:

From Poland’s ‘iron dome’ to troops: How Europe is preparing for World War III

As Britain announces a review on defence spending, much of Europe is busy preparing for an act of war that would demand a Nato response. Here, defence expert Francis Tusa explains what is being planned for and how Britain is lagging dangerously behind

Andy Gregory23 November 2024 09:27

Listen: Starmer denies UK at war after Ukraine fires British Storm Shadow missiles into Russia

Starmer denies UK at war after Ukraine fires British Storm Shadow missiles into Russia
Andy Gregory23 November 2024 09:08

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in