Kyiv reported that Russia fired over 90 missiles and around 100 drones during the attack, which Putin described as a “retaliation” for Ukrainian missile strikes on Russian territory with Western-supplied weapons.
The nearly three-year-long war has escalated in recent days, with both sides introducing advanced weaponry to gain the upper hand before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.
Putin told a press conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, “We do not rule out the use of Oreshnik against military, military-industrial, or decision-making centres, including in Kyiv.”
While Kyiv’s government district, which houses several key government buildings, is heavily protected, security concerns have heightened in the past week.
Last week, Russia conducted a test of its new Oreshnik ballistic missile on Ukraine, and President Putin boasted on Thursday that firing several of these missiles simultaneously would have the same destructive power as a nuclear strike or a “meteorite” impact.
Putin explained that the missile barrage overnight was a direct “response” to Ukraine’s continued use of US-supplied ATACMS missiles on Russian territory. He added, “As I have said repeatedly, there will always be a response from our side.”
Putin further claimed that Russia knew the number and locations of the long-range weapons supplied to Kyiv.
In response, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized Putin’s threat as a sign of weakness and stated that the West would not be intimidated by his words.
