Russia Launches ICBM Strike on Ukraine as Conflict Intensifies
Summary:
Russia launched its first ICBM strike on Ukraine from the Astrakhan region, targeting infrastructure in Dnipro. The strike marks a significant escalation in the 33-month conflict. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted most of the incoming missiles. The attack follows Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied long-range missiles to strike deep within Russia. The ICBM launch coincides with President Putin’s updated nuclear doctrine, which considers aggression from a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear power as a direct threat. Moscow has threatened massive retaliatory strikes in response.
On Thursday morning, Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Astrakhan region in an attack on Ukraine, marking the first use of such a weapon in the 33-month-long conflict, according to Ukraine’s air force. The missile targeted key infrastructure and businesses in Dnipro, a city in central-eastern Ukraine, though it is unclear how much damage was caused.
Ukraine’s air force confirmed the launch, noting that six Kh-101 cruise missiles were also fired. All but one of these missiles were intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses, as reported by CNN. Russian media suggested that Moscow may have used the RS-26 Rubezh missile, which can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads and flies at hypersonic speeds, making it harder to intercept.
ICBMs typically have a range of over 5,500 kilometers and are designed for both nuclear and conventional payloads. This escalation follows Ukraine’s recent use of Western-supplied long-range missiles, such as the US-made ATACMS and British-French Storm Shadow, to strike deep within Russian territory.
The launch of the ICBM comes just days after President Vladimir Putin updated Russia’s nuclear doctrine, declaring that any aggression from a non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear power would be seen as a direct threat to Russia’s sovereignty. Moscow had previously warned that Ukraine’s use of Western missiles would be considered a significant escalation, and it has now responded with threats of “massive” retaliatory strikes, including deploying more advanced missile systems.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the ICBM strike, stating, “That’s a question for our military.”
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