Russia's ballistic missile attack on Ukraine has prompted Kyiv to close its Parliament amid the ongoing war between the two nations.
NATO and Ukraine will convene emergency talks next Tuesday, NATO announced, following Kyiv's request. The meeting, set to occur at the ambassadorial level, is expected to focus on emerging missile threats.
Parliament Shutdown
Three Ukrainian lawmakers have confirmed that a parliamentary session set to take place was called off amid heightened fears of Russian missile strikes targeting government buildings in Kyiv's city center.
Ukrainian lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev said that in addition to canceling a parliamentary session "there was also recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and NGOs that remain in that perimeter, and residents were warned of the increased threat."
President Volodymyr Zelensky's office remains operational under routine security protocols, according to a spokesperson.
Russian Ballistic Missile Attacks
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said his country used new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missiles on Ukraine amid the ongoing war between the two nations.
"In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons, on Nov. 21 of this year, the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the facilities of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine," Putin said.
"We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities," he added. "And in case of escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond resolutely in a mirror way."
On Thursday, a missile factory in Dnipro, located in central Ukraine, was hit, while tensions escalated. Putin claimed the new missile, named Oreshnik—Russian for hazelnut tree—travels at 10 times the speed of sound and warned that U.S. air defense systems would be unable to intercept it.
Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate shared additional details, reporting that the missile was launched from Russia's 4th Missile Test Range, known as Kapustin Yar, located in the Astrakhan region. The missile, which carried six warheads equipped with six submunitions each, traveled for 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. It reached a peak speed of 11 Mach during its flight.
The Pentagon has confirmed that the missile launched by Russia is a new experimental intermediate-range weapon, derived from the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile.
Russian forces also launched an attack against Sumy using Shahed drones, killing two people and injuring 12 others, the regional administration reported Friday morning. The strike hit a residential area of the city, adding to the mounting toll on civilian populations.
Ukraine Strikes Targets Inside Russia
Earlier this week, the Biden administration approved Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles for strikes deeper within Russian territory, prompting a sharp backlash from Moscow.
Days later, Ukraine launched several of the long-range missiles into Russian territory, according to the Kremlin. That same day, Putin enacted a new doctrine permitting a potential nuclear response to conventional attacks on Russia if the aggressor is backed by a nuclear power.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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