Ukraine's Air Force stated that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Dnipro on Thursday, marking the first use of such a powerful long-range missile by Russia during the conflict, a weapon designed to launch nuclear strikes thousands of kilometers away.
According to ABC News, Western officials denied this claim. However, a Western official told ABC News that the attack does not appear to have involved the use of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). This official stated that it was actually a ballistic missile aimed at Dnipro in southeastern Ukraine.
Signs of rapid escalation in the 33-month conflict have surged recently. Earlier this week, Ukraine launched U.S. and U.K.-made long-range missiles at targets within Russia, despite Moscow warning that it would view such actions as a significant escalation.
Security experts stated that if confirmed, this would mark the first military use of intercontinental ballistic missiles by Russia. ICBMs are strategic weapons designed to carry nuclear warheads and are a key component of Russia's nuclear deterrent.
According to Kyiv, the intercontinental ballistic missile launched by Russia was not armed with a nuclear warhead.
Russia did not immediately comment on the statement from Ukraine's Air Force. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters to contact the Russian military for comments when asked about the matter.
The Kyiv-based media (Ukrainian Truth) quoted anonymous sources stating that Russia launched the RS-26 'Boundary' intercontinental ballistic missile, a solid-fuel ICBM with a range of 5,800 kilometers.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the RS-26 'Boundary' intercontinental ballistic missile was successfully tested for the first time in 2012, estimated to be 12 meters (40 feet) long and weighing 36 tons, and reportedly capable of carrying an 800-kilogram (1,765-pound) nuclear warhead.
The Russian Air Force stated that the targets of the Russian missile strikes were businesses and critical infrastructure in the central-eastern city of Dnipro.
The Russian Air Force did not specify what the target of the intercontinental ballistic missile was, nor did it clarify whether it caused any damage, but local governor Serhiy Lysak stated that the missile strike damaged an industrial facility in Dnipro and caused a fire. Two people were injured.
Ukraine's Air Force stated that Russia also launched a Kh-47M2 'Dagger' hypersonic missile and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles, six of which were shot down. "That ICBM was launched from the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation." Astrakhan is over 700 kilometers (435 miles) from Dnipro in Ukraine.
"Unprecedented"
Ukraine's defense consulting firm Defense Express inquired whether Kyiv's main international ally, the U.S., was forewarned about the missile launches.
"Another question is whether the U.S. received warnings about the launch and its direction, as announcing such launches is a prerequisite to prevent triggering missile warning systems and launching missiles in response," Defense Express wrote.
NATO military alliance did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"If true, this would be completely unprecedented and the first actual military use of intercontinental ballistic missiles. Given their cost and precision, it doesn’t make much sense," posted Andrey Baklitskiy of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research on X.
German security expert Ulrich Kuehn posted, "It seems that Russia has used intercontinental ballistic missiles for the first time in the conflict, targeting civilian objectives in Dnipro."
Russian battlefield reporters on Telegram and an anonymous official stated that Kyiv launched British 'Storm Shadow' cruise missiles at Russia's Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for the Ukrainian General Staff stated that he had not received any information, and the extent of the damage remains unclear.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated in its daily report of events over the past 24 hours that air defense systems shot down two British 'Storm Shadow' cruise missiles.
Two months before Trump returned to the White House, U.S. President Biden authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-made long-range missiles to strike Russia, and on Tuesday, Ukraine launched U.S. ATACMS missiles at Russia. Later that same evening, Russian President Putin signed a decree lowering the threshold for nuclear strikes in response to broader conventional attacks.
Trump has stated he would end the war but did not specify how to do so, criticizing the billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine under Biden's leadership. Both sides in the ongoing conflict believe Trump might push for negotiations, so they are trying to gain a favorable position before talks. It is understood that there have been no peace negotiations between the two sides since the initial months of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that using Western weapons to strike deep into Russian territory would constitute a significant escalation of the conflict. Kyiv has stated that it needs the capability to defend itself by hitting bases used for Russian attacks in the rear.
Article reposted from: Jinshi Data