Russia-Ukraine War Day 1002: Escalation with Ballistic Missile Strikes and Key Developments

Key Developments in the Russia-Ukraine War on November 22

Ballistic Missile Attack

• President Vladimir Putin confirmed Russia fired a hypersonic missile at Dnipro, Ukraine. This was a response to U.S. and U.K. support for Ukraine’s ability to strike Russian territory.
• Putin stated civilians would receive advance warnings before future strikes. He described the conflict as having “global elements.”
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the missile’s use a serious escalation and sought global condemnation, noting a lack of strong international reaction.
• Initially, Ukraine claimed an intercontinental ballistic missile was used, but U.S. officials confirmed it was an intermediate-range ballistic missile, with a range of 3,000 to 5,500 km.
• A U.S. official indicated that Russia notified Washington before the missile launch. Another official stated the U.S. had warned Ukraine and allies about potential strikes.
• Russia’s Defence Ministry reported downing two British Storm Shadow cruise missiles launched by Ukraine. Russia warned that the U.K. is now directly involved in the conflict.
• Russia claimed a new U.S. missile defense base in Poland increases nuclear risks. Poland countered that Russian threats justify NATO defenses.

Fighting

• Russia’s Defence Ministry announced the capture of the village of Dalne in Donetsk, a claim Ukraine did not confirm. Ukraine mentioned ongoing Russian attacks in that area.
• Ukraine’s parliament postponed a session due to security concerns.
• Recent Russian missile strikes targeted Ukrainian thermal power plants, impacting the national power grid.

North Korea

• President Joe Biden has lifted opposition to Ukraine using U.S. missiles against targets in Russia due to North Korea’s involvement in the conflict.
• North Korean leader Kim Jong Un accused the U.S. of increasing tensions, stating the Korean Peninsula faces a high risk of nuclear conflict.
• South Korean and Japanese defense ministers condemned North Korea sending troops to Russia.

Sanctions

• The U.S. implemented new sanctions against Russia, including measures targeting Gazprombank.
• Baltic states and Poland petitioned the European Commission to impose customs duties on fertilizers from Russia and Belarus.