Putin Is Lying That Ukraine’s Use of Long-Range Weapons Is a New Development, Says Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a statement following Russia’s acknowledgment of deploying a new ballistic missile, On November 21.

“Putin is lying when he claims that Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons is some sort of new development. We have used this weapon before and have every right to do so under international law. Our right to self-defense is the same as that of any other nation”, Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine's president Zelenskyy also criticized Russia for escalating the Russia’s war against Ukraine with a missile strike on Dnipro.

“By launching a missile strike on Dnipro today, Putin has taken a second step toward escalation this year. The first step was involving North Korea in the war,” Zelenskyy added.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin confirmed in a televised address that Russia had launched the latest ballistic hypersonic missile "Oreshnik" at Ukraine.

“Specifically, after the use of Western long-range precision weapons against our territory, continuing the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine provoked by the West, the United States and its NATO allies previously announced their approval for the use of these weapons against Russian territory. Experts are well aware, and the Russian side has repeatedly emphasized, that using such weapons without direct involvement from military specialists of the countries producing these systems is impossible”, Putin stated.

Previously, Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile in an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on November 21, making Ukraine the first country in the world against which an ICBM  was used in combat.