Germany slams Russia's use of Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile

Germany on Friday condemned Russia's use of the Oreshnik nuclear-capable medium-range ballistic missile in an overnight attack on western Ukraine.

"Russia has escalated once again with its use of the medium-range missile against Ukrainian civil infrastructure in Lviv," deputy government spokesman Steffen Meyer said in Berlin.

"These are symbolic threats intended to create fear, but which do not work. For that, Russian behaviour at this point is too transparent," Meyer added.

Russia's justification for using the new missile - first used against Ukraine in November - on the grounds of an alleged Ukrainian attack on a residence of President Vladimir Putin exposed the move "as pure manoeuvre," he said.

The allegation of an attack on Putin's residence had already been refuted, Meyer said. "Russia is further escalating here unprovoked," he added.

The spokesman noted that the Oreshnik had been launched after Ukraine, the US and Europe had been working intensively for weeks towards a peace agreement. The attack would not change Germany's determination to stand at Ukraine's side, Meyer said.