In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from its southern Astrakhan region on Thursday morning, marking the first time such a powerful, long-range weapon has been used in the war with Ukraine, according to Kyiv’s air force.
The strike targeted critical infrastructure and businesses in the central-eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, further intensifying the 33-month-long conflict. While the Ukrainian air force did not specify the missile’s exact target or the extent of the damage, the use of an ICBM highlights the severity of Russia’s response.
This missile strike comes after Ukraine employed US and British missiles to target Russian positions inside Russia earlier this week, actions that Moscow had warned would be a major escalation. The ICBM, which has a range of thousands of kilometers, can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads, although it remains unclear whether the missile fired by Russia carried a conventional payload.
Ukrainian air defences successfully intercepted six Kh-101 cruise missiles during the same attack, demonstrating their ongoing efforts to protect key infrastructure from aerial assaults.
While the missile launch represents a new phase in Russia’s military strategy, the situation remains fluid as both sides continue to escalate their actions amid the ongoing war.