Use of 9M729 missiles by Russia
The Russian Federation has used 23 9M729 cruise missiles against Ukraine, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The production of this system is prohibited by the international Treaty on Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF Treaty). This move has raised serious concerns in the international community, as the use of such missiles poses a threat to global security. Notably, the USA exited the INF Treaty in August 2019 precisely due to violations of this treaty by Russia.
Characteristics and Consequences
The 9M729 missile, also known as 'Novator', has a range of over 1200 km and is designed to strike ground targets with high precision. It is part of the operational-tactical missile system 'Iskander-K'. This system can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. The use of such missiles by Russia indicates a gross violation of international norms and agreements, which could lead to increased tension in the region.
Over the past week, Russia has also launched 1718 strike drones and 70 missiles, of which 25 were ballistic. This indicates an increase in military activity from Russia. Given all these facts, representatives of the international community urge the participating states of the OSCE to take measures to strengthen sanctions against Russia and take additional actions to prevent further violations of international agreements.
The use of 9M729 missiles by Russia underscores the risk of conflict escalation in Ukraine and the threat to international security, as these actions violate existing international agreements. The intensification of military activity by Russia, particularly the launch of a large number of drones and ballistic missiles, raises concerns in the global community, which may lead to new sanctions and diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation.
It is important for OSCE participating countries to respond to these violations to prevent further escalation of tension in the region.