Russia fires intercontinental ballistic missile in major escalation: Ukraine

The Russian military has reportedly fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during an attack on Ukraine in a major escalation. This appears to be the first use of the missile designed to send nuclear strikes thousands of kilometres in distance.

The launch has made the brutal conflict engulfing Russia and Ukraine for more than 1,000 days a bigger crisis. Ukraine recently fired US and British missiles at targets inside Russia despite the latter alerting that it is going to see such action as a major escalation.

Ukraine’s air force said on Thursday that Russia fired an ICBM targeting Dnipro. Kyiv did not specify the type of missile its neighbouring territory launched or if it’s nuclear-armed. Russia did not immediately comment on the statement.

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RS-26 Rubezh: intercontinental ballistic missile

Ukrainska Pravda, a media outlet based in Ukraine, cited anonymous sources informing them that the missile is actually an RS-26 Rubezh, a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile capable of covering 5,800 km.

First successfully tested back in 2012, the RS-26 is estimated to be 12 m long, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The Russian attack on Thursday targeted enterprises and critical infrastructure in Dnipro, according to the air force.

Ukraine did not specify if the ICBM had caused any damage. But regional governor Serhiy Lysak said the missile attack caused damage to an industrial enterprise and set off fires in the central-eastern city. The attack has also injured a couple of people.