Russia has threatened to attack a new US defense base in Poland with “advanced weapons” — just hours after reportedly launching an intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday.
Moscow leveled the warning after saying the opening of the ballistic missile defense base, located in the town of Redzikowo near the Baltic coast, would lead to an increase in overall nuclear danger.
“Given the nature and level of threats posed by such Western military facilities, the missile defense base in Poland has long been added to the list of priority targets for potential destruction, which, if necessary, can be executed with a wide range of advanced weapons,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.
The US base at Redzikowo, which opened Nov. 13, is part of a broader NATO missile shield — known as “Aegis Ashore” — that can intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles, according to the alliance.
“This is another frankly provocative step in a series of deeply destabilizing actions by the Americans and their allies in the North Atlantic Alliance in the strategic sphere,” Zakharova said of the base’s opening.
“This leads to undermining strategic stability, increasing strategic risks and, as a result, to an increase in the overall level of nuclear danger.”
Poland stressed that the base does not pose a threat and does not hold nuclear missiles.
“It is a base that serves the purpose of defense, not attack,” said Pawel Wronski, Poland’s foreign ministry spokesperson.
“Such threats will certainly serve as an argument to strengthen Poland’s and NATO’s air defenses, and should also be considered by the United States.”
The Kremlin’s warning came after Kyiv’s air force said Russian forces launched an intercontinental ballistic missile during an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro earlier Thursday.
The Ukrainian air force said the missile was fired from the Russian region of Astrakhan — some 435 miles from Dnipro in east-central Ukraine.
“Today there was a new Russian missile. All the characteristics — speed, altitude — are (of an) intercontinental ballistic (missile). An expert (investigation) is currently underway,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video statement.
Asked about the Ukrainian statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters to contact the Russian military for comment.
The launch, if confirmed, adds to the rapidly rising tensions after Ukraine fired US missiles at targets inside Russia this week — despite Moscow warning it would see such action as a major escalation and Russian officials saying it could lead to World War III.
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