Archive · 31 Oct 2025
Kremlin Defers Questions on Russian Missile Use to Defense Ministry
There's a special agreement called the INF treaty that stopped certain missiles from being made.
The United States left this treaty because they said Russia was making a missile called the 9M729 that was too long-range.
Ukraine says Russia has been using this 9M729 missile to attack them many times recently.
When reporters asked the Kremlin about this, the Kremlin said they couldn't answer and that the military should be asked.
Russia had previously said this missile did not break the treaty rules.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov directed questions about Russia's use of 9M729 missiles in Ukraine to the Ministry of Defence.
A senior Ukrainian source claims Russia has fired the 9M729 missile, which prompted the U.S. to leave the INF treaty, 23 times since August.
The U.S. withdrew from the INF Treaty in 2019, stating the 9M729 missile violated its range limits.
Russia has previously denied violating the INF treaty with the 9M729 missile, with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stating it did not exceed the 500 km range limit.
The 9M729 missile's development was a key reason for the U.S. withdrawal from the INF Treaty.
- Who
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov
- What
- Peskov referred questions about the alleged use of 9M729 missiles by Russia in Ukraine to the Ministry of Defence, while Ryabkov previously denied the missile violated INF treaty limits.
- When
- Peskov's comments made Friday; alleged missile use since August; U.S. withdrawal from INF in 2019; Ryabkov's comments in 2018.
- Where
- Ukraine (alleged strikes), Moscow (Kremlin comments).
- Why
- The Kremlin's official stance is to defer questions about specific military actions to the Ministry of Defence. Russia has previously denied that the 9M729 missile violated the INF treaty.
Ukraine's Allegations
Russia's Stance
Use of 9M729 Missile
Ukraine's Allegations
Russia has allegedly fired the 9M729 missile, which led to the U.S. withdrawal from the INF treaty, 23 times in Ukraine since August.
Russia's Stance
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated questions regarding specific missile usage should be directed to the Ministry of Defence. Russia previously denied the 9M729 missile violated the INF treaty's range limits.
INF Treaty Compliance
Ukraine's Allegations
The U.S. left the INF treaty because Washington claimed the 9M729 missile breached its range limitations.
Russia's Stance
Russia has consistently denied claims of violating the INF treaty, with officials stating the missile did not exceed the 500 km range limit.
- Missile in question
- 9M729
- Treaty breached
- Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty
- INF Treaty Range Limit
- 500 km
- Alleged Russian Missile Usage
- 23 times since August
- Kremlin Spokesperson
- Dmitry Peskov
- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
- Sergei Ryabkov
