Part 2/10:
Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the situation in an unannounced televised statement, confirming the test-fired missile was an experimental medium-range ballistic missile. Putin justified the launch as a response to Ukrainian long-range strikes using Western weapons earlier in the week. Despite the classification debate, all missiles involved, including ICBMs and IRBMs, are nuclear-capable and can carry multiple warheads—MV payloads, which generally imply nuclear armament.