KYIV, Nov 21: In a significant escalation of the ongoing war, Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Ukraine on Thursday, marking the first known military use of such a powerful weapon designed to deliver nuclear strikes. According to Ukraine’s air force, this missile, launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region, is designed for delivering nuclear warheads and has a range of over 5,000 km. This marks an escalation in the 33-month-long conflict, which has seen tensions rise sharply after Ukraine fired U.S. and British missiles at Russian targets earlier this week.
While Ukraine did not specify the warhead or the exact type of missile, security experts have identified it as the RS-26 Rubezh, a solid-fueled ICBM with a range of 5,800 km. The missile is capable of carrying a nuclear payload, though there was no indication that it was armed with nuclear material. Russia has yet to comment on the launch, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov directing inquiries to the Russian military.
The missile targeted critical infrastructure in the central-eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, causing significant damage to an industrial enterprise and starting fires in the area. Local authorities reported two people injured as a result of the attack. In addition to the ICBM, Russia also fired a Kinzhal hypersonic missile and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles, six of which were intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses.
The missile was launched from a location more than 700 km (435 miles) from Dnipro, further underscoring the weapon’s long-range capabilities. This unprecedented missile use comes after Ukrainian missile strikes inside Russian territory, which Moscow had warned could significantly escalate the war.
