Russia retaliates for Ukrainian use of Western-made missiles – MOD

The Russian military has carried out a missile strike on targets in Kiev in response to Ukraine using US-made missiles to attack internationally recognized Russian territory, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said.

Kiev’s forces used Western-made arms to target a chemical industry facility in Rostov Region in southern Russia on Wednesday, the ministry said in a statement on Friday. The attack on the Kamensky Plant involved six American-made ATACMS missiles and four Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles, provided to Ukraine by the UK, it added.

In retaliation, the Russian military struck a Ukrainian military command center and targeted installations of US-supplied Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, the Defense Ministry said.

“In response to the actions of the Kiev regime, supported by its Western curators, this morning a combined strike with long-range precision weapons was launched,” the statement read.

It targeted the Luch design bureau in the Ukrainian capital, which produces Neptun and Olkha missile systems, the ministry said.

“The goals of the strike were achieved. All targets were hit,” the statement added. 

Witnesses reported hearing loud explosions in several areas in Kiev on Friday morning. 

The missile attack was later confirmed by the Ukrainian capital’s military administration and Kiev’s mayor, Vitaly Klitschko.