The Oreshnik missiles hit their targets at speeds of up to Mach 10, or 2.5 to 3 kilometers per second, Putin said. “Existing air defense systems around the world, including those being developed by the US in Europe, are unable to intercept such missiles.”
A global war?
In perhaps the most chilling part of his remarks, Putin said the conflict in Ukraine “is taking on global dimensions” and that Russia has the right to use missiles against Western countries that supply Ukraine with weapons to use against Russian targets.
“In case of escalation, we will respond decisively and kindly,” Putin said. “I advise the ruling elites of the countries who plan to use their armed forces against Russia to seriously consider doing so.”
The change in nuclear doctrine that Putin approved earlier this week also lowers the threshold for Russia's use of nuclear weapons to counter a conventional attack that threatens Russia's “territorial integrity.”
This seems to have already happened. Ukraine launched an offensive in Russia's Kursk region in August, taking control of more than 1,000 square kilometers of Russian land. Russian forces, assisted by North Korean troops, launch a counter-offensive in an attempt to recapture the area.
Singh called Russia's invitation to North Korean troops “escalatory” and said Putin “could choose to end this war today.”
U.S. officials say Russian forces are suffering about 1,200 deaths or injuries a day during the war. In September, The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. intelligence sources estimated that a million Ukrainians and Russians had been killed or injured during the war.
The UN Human Rights Office recently reported that 11,973 civilians have been killed, including 622 children, since the large-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022.
“We warned Russia in 2022 not to do this, and they did it anyway, so there are consequences for that,” Singh said. “But we don't want this to escalate into a broader regional conflict. We are not seeking war with Russia.”
