A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor is launched during a successful intercept test, in this undated handout photo provided by the U.S. Department of Defense.
MOSCOW, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The United States is deploying missile defense systems near the Russian borders to obtain the capability to launch a sudden nuclear strike on Russia, First Deputy Chief of the Russian General Staff's Main Operations Directorate Viktor Poznikhir said Wednesday.
By developing its global missile defense system, the United States is also seeking to have the opportunity of delivering such a blow to any country it dislikes, Poznikhir said at the eighth Moscow Conference on International Security.
In response to the U.S. action, Moscow was forced to take adequate retaliatory measures, he said, adding that his country has created missile systems with enhanced capabilities, including the Sarmat and Avangard, to overcome the U.S. missile shield.
He warned the countries, where the U.S. missile defense systems are deployed, that they will be priority objects for destruction.
The use of defense against missiles with nuclear warheads may also result in extended radioactive contamination of the land, from which even countries not involved in the implementation of Pentagon's anti-missile plans may suffer, Poznikhir said.
He said that Russia is not interested in the strategic arms race and it urges the United States to return to the negotiating table for constructive dialogue.