Putin issued a statement about strikes on Russia and warned that there would be new responses
On Thursday, November 21, Vladimir Putin addressed the Russians. According to the Russian mass media, in his statement he said that he wants to inform the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, citizens of the country, allies around the world, as well as those who, according to him, “continue to nurture illusions about the possibility of the strategic defeat of Russia.” , about the latest events related to the zone of the so-called “special military operation”. He noted that these events concern the use of Western-made long-range weapons on Russian territory.
According to him, the United States and its NATO allies, continuing the course of escalating the conflict, announced permission to use their long-range, high-precision weapons systems on the territory of the Russian Federation. Putin emphasized that experts are well aware, and the Russian side has repeatedly emphasized that it is impossible to use such weapons without the direct participation of military specialists of the countries that produce such weapons.
He reported that on November 19, Russia was hit by six US ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, and on November 21, as a result of a combined missile attack, the Storm Shadow (Great Britain) and HIMARS (USA) systems were used. According to his statement, these attacks were aimed at military facilities in the Bryansk and Kursk regions of Russia. He also noted that the Russian air defense systems repelled these attacks, and the main objectives set by the enemy were not achieved.
Putin spoke in detail about the consequences of these attacks. In the Bryansk region, a fire broke out in an ammunition warehouse due to the fall of fragments of ATACMS missiles, which was extinguished, and no casualties or serious damage were recorded. In the Kursk region, the attack was directed at one of the command posts of the Pivnich group. As a result, as he claims, there are victims, dead and wounded among the personnel of the object’s external security and service personnel. However, the command and operational staff of the control post were not injured and continue to perform their duties as usual.
Putin stressed that the use of this type of weapons cannot affect the course of hostilities in the “special military operation” zone. He stated that the Russian troops are “successfully advancing along the entire line of battle” and assured that all the tasks set before them will be fulfilled.
He also reported that in response to the use of American and British long-range weapons, the Russian armed forces launched a combined attack on one of the objects of the defense-industrial complex of Ukraine on November 21. During this attack, according to him, there was a test of the latest Russian medium-range missile system with hypersonic equipment called “Oreshnyk”. According to Putin, the missile successfully achieved its goal, in particular, one of the largest industrial complexes in Dnipro, which produces rocket equipment and other weapons, was hit.
He explained that Russia is developing medium- and shorter-range missiles as a response to US plans to deploy similar weapons in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Putin believes the US made a mistake by withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, and said Russia had voluntarily refrained from deploying such weapons until they appeared in other regions of the world.
He emphasized that Russia reserves the right to use its weapons against military facilities of countries that allow the use of their weapons against Russia. According to him, in case of further escalation of aggressive actions, Russia will respond “resolutely and decisively”.
“I repeat: the tests of the Oreshnyk missile system in combat conditions are being carried out in response to the aggressive actions of NATO countries towards Russia. The issue of further deployment of medium- and shorter-range missiles will be decided by us depending on the actions of the United States and its satellites.
Objects to defeat during further tests of our latest missile systems will be determined by us, based on threats to the security of the Russian Federation. We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities, and in the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond just as decisively and reflectively. I recommend this to the ruling elites of those countries that are planning to use their military contingents against Russia to think seriously about this.”– said Putin.
He also noted that during strikes on objects on the territory of Ukraine, Russia will warn the civilian population in advance without fear of the need to leave the danger zone, citing “humanitarian considerations”:
“We will do it openly, publicly, without fear of opposition from the adversary, who also receives this information.
Why without fear? Because there are currently no countermeasures against such weapons. Missiles attack targets at a speed of 10 Machs – this is 2.5-3 kilometers per second. Modern air defense systems that exist in the world and the anti-missile defense systems created by the Americans in Europe do not intercept such missiles, it is excluded.”
Putin also emphasized that it was not Russia, but the USA that destroyed the international security system and, continuing to fight and cling to its hegemony, are pushing the whole world towards a global conflict.
“We have always preferred and are now ready to resolve all disputed issues by peaceful means. But we are also ready for any development of events. If anyone still doubts this, it is in vain – the answer will always be there.” – he concluded.
