Vladimir Putin has threatened Kyiv’s decision-making centres. (Image: Getty)
Russia will focus on targets in that could include “decision-making centres” in response to Kyiv’s use of US and UK-made long-range weapons, has said.
So far, Russian attacks on Kyiv have not targeted government buildings and the capital is heavily defended by air defences. However, Putin touted the new Oreshnik hypersonic missile fired at last week, claiming it was impossible to shoot down.
Speaking in Kazakhstan, Putin said: “Of course, we will respond to the ongoing strikes on Russian territory with long-range Western-made missiles, as has already been said, including by possibly continuing to test the Oreshnik in combat conditions, as was done on November 21.”
He continued: “At present, the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff are selecting targets to hit on Ukrainian territory. These could be military facilities, defence and industrial enterprises, or decision-making centres in Kyiv.”
The Russian leader also said: “Tonight we conducted a comprehensive strike using 90 missiles of similar classes and 100 drones. Seventeen targets were hit.
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Emergency services putting out a fire at a Ukrainian energy plant (Image: Getty)
“These are military facilities, defence industry facilities and their support systems.
“Let me repeat once again: these strikes on our part also took place in response to the ongoing strikes (by ) on Russian territory with American ATACMS missiles. As I have already said many times, there will always be a response from our side.”
The chilling comments come after launched a devastating attack against Kyiv’s energy infrastructure this morning which ‘s President called a “vile escalation”.
Huge explosions were reported in cities across .
Cities across Ukraine were struck by Russian forces (Image: Getty)
On Thursday, air raid warnings for “the threat of missile danger” in Kyiv, Rivne, Vinnytsia, Kropyvnytskyi, Balta, Mykolai and other cities.
Ukrainian energy minister, Herman Halushchenko, said the strikes were “taking place all over .”
says that with the temperatures in the country only just above freezing.
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