Russia has issued a strong warning, stating that it will take action to shoot down Tomahawk cruise missiles and eliminate their launch sites if Donald Trump provides these weapons to Ukraine. The threat was made by a senior Russian lawmaker in response to Trump mentioning that a decision had been made regarding sending the missiles to Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces. The Russian parliament’s defense committee head, Andrei Kartapolov, emphasized that Putin’s response would be forceful and strategic if the Tomahawk deal proceeds, including potential strikes on launch sites. He also downplayed NATO’s belief that the weapons could significantly impact the situation in Ukraine due to limited supply capabilities.
Additionally, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov expressed concerns about the deteriorating relationship between Putin and Trump since their August meeting in Alaska, attributing the decline to the actions of European allies. He urged the U.S. leadership and military to approach the situation with caution and responsibility. In a separate incident, Russia reportedly damaged a Ukrainian thermal power plant during an overnight attack, causing injuries to two workers. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin began a state visit to Tajikistan on his 73rd birthday, engaging in discussions with leaders from former Soviet Union nations.
Furthermore, the Human Rights Watch NGO called for the arrest of Putin under the 2023 International Criminal Court warrant for war crimes, emphasizing the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions in Ukraine.