"Russia has attacked Ukraine in recent months with a cruise missile, the secret development of which prompted Donald Trump to abandon a nuclear arms control treaty with Moscow during his first term as president of the United States," the minister said.

Sibih's statements are the first confirmation that Russia has used the 9M729 ground-launched missile in combat operations - in Ukraine or elsewhere, the agency says.

Such a missile can have both conventional and nuclear warheads.

According to other sources, Russia has fired this missile at Ukraine 23 times since August.

Ukraine has also recorded two 9M729 launches by Russia in 2022.

"Russia's use of the 9M729 missile, banned by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, against Ukraine in recent months demonstrates [Russian dictator Vladimir] Putin's disrespect for the United States and President Donald Trump's diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine," Sibiha said.

The US withdrew from the INF in 2019 because of the 9M729 missile.