NATO and Ukraine to Convene Emergency Talks Following Russian Missile Strike
Kyiv, Ukraine — NATO and Ukraine have announced emergency talks for Tuesday after Russia launched an experimental hypersonic ballistic missile, marking a significant escalation in the 33-month-long war.
The missile, identified as the Oreshnik, struck a military facility in Dnipro on Thursday, sparking heightened security concerns and prompting Ukraine’s parliament to cancel a scheduled session. The strike has drawn widespread condemnation and intensified calls for additional defensive support to Ukraine from its allies.
A New Phase of Conflict
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the attack as a sign that the conflict is “entering a decisive phase” and warned of its “dramatic dimensions.” Ukrainian officials confirmed that the missile, which reached speeds of Mach 11, carried six nonnuclear warheads that dispersed submunitions upon impact.
In a televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the strike was retaliation for Ukraine’s use of U.S. and British-supplied long-range missiles. He boasted that Western air defense systems are powerless against the Oreshnik, which he described as unmatched globally.
“No one in the world has such weapons,” Putin declared, adding that the missile is now in production and will continue being tested in combat scenarios. Military experts believe the Oreshnik can deliver conventional warheads with an impact comparable to nuclear weapons when used in large numbers.
International Reactions
The missile strike has drawn sharp criticism from Ukraine’s allies. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called the attack an “escalatory step” and urged swift delivery of additional air defense systems to Ukraine. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, known for his pro-Kremlin stance, warned of the dangerous implications of Western involvement in Ukraine, suggesting that the use of advanced U.S.-made weaponry may require direct American assistance.
In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office remained operational under heightened security. Officials said that areas around government buildings were cordoned off as a precautionary measure following threats of further missile attacks.
Targeting Strategic Assets
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate revealed that the Oreshnik missile was launched from Russia’s Kapustin Yar missile test range and flew for 15 minutes before hitting its target. The missile struck the Pivdenmash plant, a former Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile manufacturing site, in Dnipro. While no fatalities were reported, the attack disrupted one of Ukraine’s key military and humanitarian hubs.
In addition to the missile strike in Dnipro, Russian drones targeted the city of Sumy overnight, killing two civilians and injuring 13 others. Regional officials reported that the drones, believed to be Iranian-designed Shahed models, were filled with shrapnel designed for maximum human harm.
NATO’s Response
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the missile strike a “grave escalation” and confirmed that Tuesday’s emergency talks will address new measures to assist Ukraine. The alliance is expected to discuss bolstering air defense systems and increasing sanctions on Moscow.
The attack has underlined the growing need for advanced defenses as Ukraine continues its counteroffensive. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized that the nation requires “unwavering support” from its allies to withstand the increasing sophistication of Russian weaponry.
The coming days will reveal whether this latest escalation drives NATO and its partners to take more decisive action in a war that continues to reshape the security dynamics of Europe and beyond.
