On the Day of Dignity and Freedom, Russia struck Ukraine with a new missile, all the characteristics indicate that it was an intercontinental ballistic missile, but an examination is still underway, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Today, our crazy neighbor once again showed what he really is and how he despises dignity, freedom, and the lives of people in general. And how afraid he is. So afraid that he uses new missiles. And he is looking around the world for where else to find weapons. Sometimes in Iran, sometimes in North Korea. Today there was a new Russian missile. All the characteristics: speed, altitude - intercontinental ballistic. The examinations are still underway," Zelenskyy said in a video address on Thursday.

Vladimir Putin confirmed in a statement on Thursday evening that on November 21 the Russian Armed Forces have made a strike on Ukraine using a nuclear-warhead-free ballistic missile called Oreshnik, one of the newest intermediate range missiles. The goal of the launch has been accomplished, he said. Dnipro-based Pivdenmash was the target of the attack. Putin also said that "neither modern air defense systems that exist in the world nor anti-missile defense systems being created by the U.S. in Europe can intercept such missiles. This is impossible."

Putin also confirmed the Ukrainian Armed Forces' attack on Bryansk and Kursk regions by American ATACMS and French-UK Storm Shadow missiles. Moscow has right to use weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against Russia, he said.

Zelenskyy said that Putin is using Ukraine as a testing ground.

"Obviously, Putin is terrified when normal life simply exists next to him. When people simply have dignity. When a country simply wants to be and has the right to be independent," he said.

As previously reported by the Ukrainian Air Force, on November 21, 2024, between 5 a.m and 7 a.m., Russian troops launched a series of strikes against Dnipro using a Kh-47M2 Kinzhal intercontinental ballistic missile and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles. As a result of the attack, two people were injured, and industrial enterprise and a rehabilitation center for people with disabilities were damaged.