For the first time since the war started, Russia has attacked Ukraine with an intercontinental missile, according to the Ukrainian military.
Missiles of this type can travel at least 5,500 kilometers and are primarily developed to carry nuclear weapons, although this missile did not.
We have very limited information about the consequences of this and we are waiting for Ukrainian reports on the damage and what has happened, says Ulf Kristersson at a press conference.
However, it can already be established that the attack is a Russian attempt to intimidate both Ukraine and Western countries, he continues.
"Trying to intimidate"
I think one can say that this is part of a Russian signaling to Ukraine, of course, but also to the West. They dislike Western countries' support for Ukraine and want to signal and try to intimidate Western countries from continued support for Ukraine, says Kristersson.
But as they have noted so far, it doesn't work, and we stand clearly and firmly behind our support for Ukraine.
The Chairman of the Defense Committee, Peter Hultqvist (S), sees the attack as an escalation of the fighting in Ukraine.
The attack shows that the Russians do not respect a single rule, he says.
It is clear that it is an escalation of the fighting in the area.
"Russia is the problem"
He believes that this should be seen as a Russian response to Ukraine firing American long-range weapons into Russian territory, after US President Joe Biden gave Ukraine extended permission to use them – a decision that Peter Hultqvist fully supports.
Fundamentally, the situation remains that it is Russia that is attacking Ukraine. It cannot be that Russia gets to decide some kind of rules for what Ukraine is allowed to do in relation to Russia, he says.
The Russians have already escalated. The attack alone shows that they do not respect a single rule.
He points out that Ukraine has the right to self-defense and does not think they can have any restrictions.
For it is Russia that is the problem.
