Russia has repeatedly used a ground-launched cruise missile whose secret development led the United States to quit a major Cold War-era arms control pact, said Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister.
Sybiha confirmed for the first time that Moscow has fired the 9M729 missile in combat, saying it has struck Ukrainian targets 23 times since August.
The missile’s use marks the first known deployment of a weapon that triggered Washington’s withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019.
Speaking to Reuters, a senior Ukrainian official said one 9M729 flew over 1,200 kilometres before impact. The missile, capable of carrying a nuclear or conventional warhead, has an estimated range of 2,500 kilometres. The 9M729’s mobility makes it hard to detect and allows launches from deep inside Russian territory.
Analysts warned the attacks expand Russia’s long-range strike options and heighten risks for European security.
The White House declined to comment, while Kyiv urged stronger Western pressure on Moscow and renewed its appeal for long-range U.S. Tomahawk missiles.
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