Moscow will continue attacks on Ukrainian targets “each time” Russia is hit with U.S.-supplied missiles, the Kremlin said Friday in response to U.S. President Joe Biden’s condemnation of the strike on Ukraine’s energy grid.
Biden on Thursday said the “horrific” and “outrageous” attack, which left a million Ukrainians without power, showed the “urgency” of backing Kyiv ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's return to office in January.
“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin had warned that the authorization to use U.S. and other foreign-made missiles was an irresponsible and escalatory step,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“And if these missiles are used, there will be an appropriate response every time,” he added.
Putin said Russia launched more than 90 missiles and around 100 drones during Thursday’s overnight barrage in response to “continued attacks on our territory by [U.S.-made] ATACMS missiles.”
Putin also said he did not rule out using the new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile called the Oreshnik against Ukraine’s military and “decision-making centers.”
"As I have said repeatedly, there will always be a response from our side."
AFP contributed reporting.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
