MOSCOW (AFP): Russian forces have “derailed” Ukraine’s entire military strategy for next year, Moscow’s defense minister said on Friday, after Russia struck Ukraine with an experimental hypersonic missile.
President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of the missile in a surprise address on Thursday, saying the conflict in Ukraine had taken on a “global” nature.
The Kremlin leader also warned that Moscow felt “entitled” to hit military facilities in countries that allow Ukraine to use their weapons against Russia.
In a meeting with military commanders, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said Moscow’s advance had “accelerated” in Ukraine and “ground down” Kyiv’s best units.
“We have, in fact, derailed the entire 2025 campaign,” Belousov said of the Ukrainian army, speaking in a video published by the Russian defense ministry.
Russian troops have been making steady advances in eastern Ukraine for months, capturing a string of small towns and villages because overstretched Ukrainian soldiers lack manpower and artillery.
Ukraine recently fired US- and UK-supplied longer-range missiles at Russian territory for the first time, ramping up already sky-high tensions over the conflict, which is nearly in its third year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a strong response from world leaders to Russia’s use of the new missile, which he said proved Moscow “does not want peace.”
