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WAR crazed President Putin threatened to blast parts of Kyiv “to dust” after unleashing a missile and drone blitz that plunged a million people into blackouts.
The tyrant claimed multiple strikes with his new Oreshnik hypersonic missile would be akin to a nuclear bomb.
EPA
Reuters
AFP
He said targets on the Kremlin’s list included “decision making centres” in Kyiv.
His words were seen as a thinly veiled threat to blitz Ukraine’s parliament, ministries, and foreign embassies which have so far escaped unscathed.
He blasted the central city of Dnipro with an Oreshnik missile last week – which he claimed was a “test in combat conditions”.
It was the first time the medium range ballistic missile had been used in anger.
It is based on an RS-26 Rubezh missile designed for nuclear war and it reached speeds of 13,000mph in the final stage of its descent as it split into multiple missiles, each armed with multiple warheads seconds before impact.
Putin vowed to launch more after America gave Kyiv permission to fire long range US ATACMS missiles and British Storm Shadow weapons at targets inside Russia.
Ukraine launched its first ATACMS missiles into Russia on November 11 and Storm Shadow rockets just two days later.
Russia’s defence ministry on Tuesday said Ukraine had carried out fresh strikes, on 23 and 25 November, using ATACMS rockets.
Experts said Russia is thought to have around 10 Oreshnik’s in its arsenal.
The tyrant unleashed his threat and gleefully boasted about his war toy during a speech in Kazakhstan for the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
He said: “I have already said that these are quite powerful elements that are heated up to a temperature of 4,000 degrees centigrade.
“Well, I don’t know, you can look on the internet at the surface area of the sun, I think 5,600 to 6,000 degrees is comparable to the temperature on the surface of the sun.
“A kinetic impact, a massive impact. Like a meteorite falling.
“We know in history how and what meteorites fell where and what the consequences were.”
He also called out the West for aiding Ukraine as he reiterated his stance on them now being directly involved in the conflict.
Putin’s latest threats came hours after the Kremlin unleashed a massive wave of almost 190 missiles and drones.
Ukraine said it shot down 76 cruise missiles, 3 air-to-surface missiles, and 35 drones.
It also said 62 drones were “lost from radar” – which usually means they were downed by electronic warfare or made to fly back to Russia.
Reuters
AFP
But at least 12 missiles got through – and blasted Ukraine’s oil and energy infrastructure.
The attack included 28 Kalibr cruise missiles launched from ships and submarines in the Black Sea, Ukraine said.
Putin claimed 17 targets had been hit.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky accused Russia of a “despicable escalation”.
He said the latest strikes included cruise missiles armed with cluster bombs.
Putin has also taken political swipes at the West as the expulsion of the British diplomat Wilkes Edward Prior was revealed yesterday.
The tyrant however was taunted on his trip to Kazakstan after his motorcade drove past a huge illuminated Ukraine flag.
Putin was left embarrassed after brave hackers changed one of the digital Russian flags displayed in the country’s capital.
The screen, at Astana Opera Theatre, was reportedly permanently turned off following the incident last night.
Officials launched a criminal probe into the embarrassing blunder.
AFP
English (US)