MOSCOW: Russia has launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Ukraine for the first time since the start of its invasion, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. This missile strike comes in response to Ukraine’s recent use of long-range missiles supplied by Western allies, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
On Thursday, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russian forces had launched multiple types of missiles targeting the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Among these was an ICBM, fired from the Astrakhan region in Russia. The attack was aimed at critical infrastructure in the city, though Ukrainian defense systems successfully intercepted several missiles, including six in total.
A source within the Ukrainian air force confirmed to AFP that this marked the first time Russia had deployed an ICBM since the invasion began nearly two years ago. The missile in question is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads, although Ukrainian officials indicated that it did not carry a nuclear payload in this instance. The missile’s long-range capability means it can strike targets thousands of kilometers away, a significant escalation in the technological scale of the conflict.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when asked about the missile strike, refused to provide any comment, saying he had nothing to say on this topic.
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The air defense forces of Ukraine reported that they had successfully downed six incoming missiles during the attack, although it remained unclear whether the ICBM was among those intercepted. Despite the barrage, the Russian assault caused damage in Dnipro, including the destruction of a rehabilitation center, several homes, and an industrial facility. Two civilians were reported injured in the attack: a 57-year-old man who was treated on the spot and a 42-year-old woman who required hospitalization, according to Sergiy Lysak, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk region.
The missile strike follows a dramatic increase in the use of long-range missiles by both sides in the conflict. Over the past several days, the escalation has been fueled by Western military support for Ukraine. In particular, the United States recently authorized Ukraine to use its ATACMS long-range missiles against military targets within Russian territory, a long-standing request from Kyiv.
More also, British media reports suggest that Ukraine has launched Storm Shadow missiles, provided by the UK, at Russian targets after receiving approval from the British government.
In response, Moscow’s defense ministry claimed that its air defense systems had successfully intercepted two Storm Shadow missiles, though it did not clarify whether the missiles were intercepted over Russian territory or within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.
As the conflict continues to intensify, both sides are increasingly relying on advanced missile technology, making the ongoing war not only a struggle on the ground but also in the skies, with long-range missile exchanges becoming a key feature of this devastating confrontation
