Russia May Strike Ukraine with Missile, Says Lawmaker
A Russian lawmaker has called for a missile strike on Ukraine using the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile. The proposal comes after Ukraine’s largest drone attack since the start of the war.
Andrey Kartapolov, head of Russia’s State Duma Defense Committee, made the suggestion to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “The decision is up to you,” he said. “But I think it would not be unreasonable (to launch the Oreshnik), better even more than one.”
Kartapolov was responding to a wave of 337 drones launched by Ukraine, with 74 shot down near Moscow. Russia has been conducting daily strikes on Ukraine using missiles and drones.
This is not the first time Russia has used the Oreshnik missile against Ukraine. In November 2024, it struck Dnipro in response to Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles to hit a Russian military target.
Russia plans to mass-produce the Oreshnik, but a U.S. official says they only have a small number of these experimental missiles.
Ukraine and U.S. officials are meeting in Saudi Arabia on March 11 to discuss how to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
