In a concerning development in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at the city of Dnipro on Thursday - marking what would be the first known use of such a powerful weapon in the war.
According to Ukrainian officials, the missile was launched from Russia's Astrakhan region between 5am and 7am local time, targeting enterprises and critical infrastructure in Dnipro. The missile strike reportedly damaged an industrial facility and caused fires in the city, leaving two people injured.
However, Western officials have cast doubt on Ukraine's claims. A Western official speaking to ABC News stated that the projectile was likely a regular ballistic missile rather than an ICBM. Pavel Podvig, a leading expert on Russian nuclear weapons, urged skepticism, noting that using an ICBM would be impractical given their low accuracy and high cost.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy maintains that the speed and altitude characteristics of the missile matched those of an ICBM. Russia has not officially acknowledged using an ICBM in the attack, and its defense ministry made no mention of it in daily briefings.
The alleged ICBM launch comes amid heightened tensions, with Ukraine recently firing US and British missiles at targets within Russia. Moscow had previously warned it would view such actions as a major escalation in the 33-month-old conflict.
Under a 2000 agreement between the US and Russia, each side must notify the other at least 24 hours before any planned missile launch exceeding 500km range. It remains unclear whether any such notification was provided in this case.
British intelligence services are reportedly investigating the claims urgently. France's foreign ministry spokesperson stated they could not confirm the ICBM launch but warned that such an action, if verified, would represent a serious escalation requiring an appropriate response.
The incident highlights growing concerns about potential escalation in the conflict as it passes its 1,000th day, with both sides appearing to employ increasingly powerful weapons systems.