On November 21, Russia took another escalatory step by striking the city of Dnipro with a medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear charge. Ukraine calls on UN member states, in particular states possessing nuclear weapons, to condemn Russia's irresponsible nuclear rhetoric.

"Moscow's narrative after the strike, including comments from war criminal Putin, has once again underscored Russia's intentions to convince the world audience of its complete inadequacy, this time demonstrating its readiness to kill Ukrainians not only with conventional but also with nuclear means. Ukraine calls on UN member states, in particular nuclear-weapon states, to condemn Russia's irresponsible nuclear rhetoric," Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Serhiy Kyslytsia said at a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday.

According to him, in response to this escalatory step, it is important to remember that further actions by the Russian leadership will directly depend on the strength and decisiveness of the reaction; in the event of weakness or readiness for appeasement, a more severe escalation of violence from Russia will inevitably follow.

"On the contrary, if adequate measures are taken to contain Russia and reduce its aggressive potential, Putin will stop. Therefore, the response to the current nuclear blackmail and threats from the Kremlin should include tougher sanctions and increased military assistance to the party defending itself, its people and the principles of the UN Charter," the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN said.

Kyslytsia also said the missile that struck Dnipro was equipped with six warheads, each containing six cluster munitions. According to the UN Permanent Representative, the missile moved along a ballistic trajectory, which was affected only by aerodynamic drag.

He also said in the last four days alone, Russia has launched 495 UAVs at Ukraine, as well as Iskander ballistic missiles and Kh-59-69 guided missiles. Among the targets that Russian troops are trying to hit are substations of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Following the November 17 attack, main power lines from four substations were cut off, which "poses a real and immediate threat to nuclear safety not only for Ukraine but for the entire continent."