Author: Andrew E. Kramer and Cassandra Vinograd
Published on: 08/01/2026 | 00:00:00

AI Summary:
Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday that it had struck western Ukraine with a nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile. The choice of western Ukraine — near the border with Poland, an E.U. And NATO member — as the target seemed intended to send a message to Europe as it strongly backs Kyiv in the settlement talks. With the strike, Russia is escalating the fighting in Ukraine even as it has offered a muted response to challenges in other places around the globe. Ukrainian military warns of potential missile launch from Russian nuclear testing site. Ukrainian assessment found warheads used on Friday contained no explosives. Russian Defense Ministry called the strike a response to an attempted Ukrainian attack last month on Mr. Putin’s residence. Kyiv, the capital, appeared hardest hit. At least four people were killed there, including a medic, and about two dozen others were wounded. Strikes hit several high-rise apartment buildings. The Oreshnik strike near Lviv was a “clear escalation against Ukraine” Ukraine’s foreign minister said in a statement that Ukraine had informed the United States, European nations and international organizations about the attack. Mr. Zelensky made a similar argument in his nightly address, noting that the strike was “pointedly close” to the European Union’s borders. Pentagon said it was based on an intercontinental missile, the RS-26 Rubezh. The missile carries multiple warheads that separate in flight and plummet down on a target. Ukraine has no air defense systems capable of shooting it down. Vladimir Putin Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine Ukrainian Lithium: Ukraine awarded a bid to mine a major lithium deposit to investors that include a billionaire friend of President Trump. Ukraine’s allies agreed to provide key aspects of postwar security for the country in the event of a cease-fire with Russia. Critics say the shake-up risks disrupting operations already underway.

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