Russia says it struck Kyiv missile plant, as defense ministry warns U.S. to stop supplying weapons

On Friday, Russia's defense ministry said its military hit a missile plant on the outskirts of Kyiv and promised that more attacks of that nature were on their way if Ukraine continued to strike at Russian territory.

In a statement, the ministry said that "high-precision, long-range sea-based Kalibr missiles" struck a machine-building plant in outer Kyiv that Moscow says produced "long and medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems as well as anti-ship missiles."

"The number and scale of missile strikes against assets in Kiev will increase in response to any terrorist attacks or sabotage on Russian territory by Kiev nationalist regime," said the ministry. 

The development arrives one day after Ukrainian officials claimed that their missiles had hit a Russian flagship in the Black Sea, causing significant damage and forcing an evacuation of the ship's 510-member crew. 

Also this week, according to the Washington Post, Russia sent a formal letter to the U.S. warning that continued shipments of weapons from the U.S. to Ukraine could lead to "unpredictable consequences."

The letter, which was dated Tuesday, said that the U.S. has ignored rules governing the transfer of weapons to conflict zones and that its careless actions were exacerbating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. 

A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed that the U.S. is "providing Ukraine with billions of dollars worth of security assistance, which our Ukrainian partners are using to extraordinary effect to defend their country against Russia’s unprovoked aggression and horrific acts of violence." 

Earlier this week, President Joe Bidden announced an additional $800 million in military assistance to Ukraine, which included some of the advanced munitions that the country nearing its third month of war has requested.

"The Ukrainian military has used the weapons we are providing to devastating effect. As Russia prepares to intensify its attack in the Donbas region, the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities to defend itself," said the president. 

The defense package, according to the Pentagon, included 11 Mi-17 helicopters, 300 Switchblade drones, 200 M113 armored personnel carriers, 500 Javelin missiles, 10 counter-artillery radars, and 40,000 artillery rounds.