Russia downs multiple ATACMs, Storm Shadow missiles fired from Ukraine
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The Russian Foreign Ministry reveals that most missiles were intercepted, and warned of a response to the attack.
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In this photo released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, a Russian Uragan self-propelled multiple rocket launcher fires towards Ukrainian positions from an undisclosed location in Ukraine (AP)
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukraine fired six US-manufactured ATACMs missiles and four British-made Storm Shadow missiles at Russia's southern Rostov region on Wednesday.
The statement issued by the ministry revealed that all ATACMs were intercepted, while three out of the four Storm Shadow missiles were downed. Moscow intends to respond to the attack, it further added.
President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia is prepared to launch more Oreshnik missiles, targeting "decision-making centers" in Kiev if Ukraine continues using US and British weapons to strike Russian territory.
Previously, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow expects its "signal" to the West, demonstrated through the use of its Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, to be "taken seriously".
"We don't want to aggravate the situation in Ukraine, but since ATACMS and other long-range weapons are being used against mainland Russia, we are sending signals," Lavrov indicated in an interview aired late Thursday with US journalist Tucker Carlson in Moscow.
"We hope that the last one, a couple of weeks ago, the signal with the new weapon system called Oreshnik, was taken seriously," he said.
Lavrov highlighted that Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons would be impossible without the "direct participation" of US military personnel, describing the situation as "dangerous". He also emphasized that Russia's actions were meant to convey its readiness to employ "any means" to prevent a "strategic defeat".
"The message which we wanted to send by testing in real action this hypersonic system is that we will be ready to do anything to defend our legitimate interests. We hate to even think about war with the United States, which will take on a nuclear character,” the top Russian diplomat emphasized.
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