Kremlin warns of response following Ukrainian attack using US-made missiles

Russia will respond to the latest attack on its territory using US-made ATACMS missiles, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

Ukrainian forces fired six ATACMS munitions at a military airfield near the southern city of Taganrog on Wednesday, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Two of the missiles were shot down and the rest were diverted using electronic warfare, it added. The fallen debris resulted in some injuries and minor damage to two buildings and several vehicles, the ministry said.

When asked about Moscow’s reaction to the attack on Thursday, Peskov said: “I would like to remind you of the absolutely unambiguous and direct statement of the Russian Defense Ministry that was made yesterday, which clearly stated that a response will follow.”

“The response will follow at the time and in the way that will be deemed appropriate,” the spokesman added. “But it will definitely follow.”

Last month, Russia used its new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile system for the first time, striking the Yuzhmash military plant in the Ukrainian city of Dnepr.

According to Moscow, the deployment of the state-of-the-art weapon was a response to Washington and its allies allowing Ukraine to target internationally recognized Russian territory with the long-range weapons they supply to Kiev.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned at the time that, if the Ukrainian attacks deep inside Russia continue, Moscow reserves the right “to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow the use of their weapons against our facilities.”