Russia Uses Controversial Missile in Ukraine, Same One That Ended US-Russia Nuclear Treaty

Fresh details have emerged that Russia has deployed a powerful and previously restricted missile in its ongoing war against Ukraine. 

According to reports reaching our newsroom, Ukrainian officials have confirmed that Moscow has launched the 9M729 cruise missile, a weapon that once triggered the collapse of a major nuclear arms control agreement between Russia and the United States.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha revealed that Russia has used the 9M729—also known as the SSC-8—at least 23 times since August.

Another senior Ukrainian official added that two similar launches were recorded back in 2022, marking the first time the weapon has been used in active combat.

The 9M729 missile gained global attention several years ago after the U.S. government under Donald Trump accused Russia of secretly developing and testing it in violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. 

The treaty, signed in 1987, banned both countries from possessing or testing ground-launched missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.

In 2019, Trump’s administration formally withdrew from the INF Treaty, citing Russia’s continued deployment of the 9M729 system. 

Washington argued that the missile could carry nuclear warheads and posed a serious threat to Europe and global stability. Moscow denied these allegations at the time, claiming the missile’s range did not breach treaty limits.

Now, Ukraine’s confirmation that this same missile is being used in the current conflict raises fresh security concerns for NATO and the wider international community. 

Analysts warn that its use represents a major escalation, given the weapon’s long-range capability and potential to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.

Russia’s defence ministry has not responded to requests for comment on the matter, while Ukrainian officials continue to monitor further launches closely. 

The revelation adds a new dimension to the war, which has already seen widespread destruction, massive displacement, and the use of advanced weapon systems on both sides.

Meanwhile, international observers are calling for tighter monitoring of Russia’s missile program, warning that renewed use of banned or restricted weapons could undermine decades of global arms control progress.