Russia uses 9M729 missile for strikes on Ukraine, confirms Kyiv

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has confirmed information regarding Russia’s use of the 9M729 cruise missile to attack Ukraine. This incident highlights serious violations of nuclear arms control agreements.

The use of the 9M729 missile, which led to the US exit from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, has caused serious concern. Washington accused Moscow of violating the agreement, arguing that the missile is capable of flying significantly beyond the permissible 500 km. Russia, in turn, denied these accusations.

According to Ukrainian officials, since August of this year, Russia has launched this missile at Ukraine 23 times. In 2022, there were two such launches recorded. The recent use on October 5 demonstrated the missile’s flight range of over 1200 km, military sources confirm.

The US Center for Strategic and International Studies states that the 9M729 missile can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads with a flight range of up to 2500 km. In this context, Kyiv continues to record fires from attacks, as occurred on September 7, when a 9M727 missile that did not explode hit a government building. The fire that ensued was caused by the fuel from the missile tanks.