Russia fires Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile at Ukraine in first-known use, signalling warning to Kyiv and West
Kyiv/Moscow: Russia has launched an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) at Ukraine, marking a major escalation a day after President Vladimir Putin altered Moscow's nuclear doctrine, media reports said.
The ICBM, armed with a conventional (non-nuclear) warhead, serves as a stern warning to Ukraine and its Western backers to respect Moscow’s red lines.
Traditionally designed to carry nuclear warheads, ICBMs can also be equipped with conventional ones, leveraging the advanced technology originally developed for nuclear deterrence.
The launch follows the decision by U.S. President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to allow Ukraine to deploy Western long-range missiles against Russian territory.
Hours after Kyiv received approval, it targeted Russian areas using a U.S.-made ATACMS missile and a UK-made "Storm Shadow" missile.
The ICBM strike, reportedly the first of its kind in the conflict, comes as the war reaches its 1,000th day.
The Ukrainian Air Force stated that the missile was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region, targeting infrastructure in Dnipro, a central Ukrainian city.
“This is the first time since the war began that an intercontinental ballistic missile has been used,” a Ukrainian Air Force source told AFP.
When asked about the ICBM, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment, stating he had "nothing to say on this topic."
According to Reuters, Russia launched its RS-26 Rubezh missile, which has a range of 5,800 kilometers, into Ukrainian territory. The missile was not equipped with a nuclear warhead.
The RS-26, first successfully tested in 2012, measures approximately 12 meters in length and weighs 36 tons, as per the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
In addition to the RS-26, Russian forces deployed a Kinzhal hypersonic missile and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles, six of which were intercepted, Reuters reported, citing the Ukrainian Air Force.
The missile strikes targeted enterprises and critical infrastructure in Ukraine's Dnipro, leaving two people injured, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
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