Russia launches intercontinental ballistic missile in escalated attack on Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine conflict: In a significant escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) targeting the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. This marks the first use of such a powerful nuclear-capable weapon since the war began in February 2022. According to Ukraine's air force, the missile strike occurred in the early hours of Thursday, and while the specific type of ICBM used was not disclosed, it was confirmed to have been fired from Russia's Astrakhan region.

The missile, which was aimed at critical infrastructure and industrial sites in Dnipro, caused significant damage to an industrial facility, igniting fires that left two persons injured. Alongside the ICBM, Russia also launched a Kinzhal hypersonic missile and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles. Six of these cruise missiles were intercepted by Ukrainian defense systems.

The launch of the ICBM follows Ukraine's recent missile attacks, including British Storm Shadow missiles and US-supplied ATACMS missiles, targeting Russian territories earlier in the week. Russia had earlier warned that such strikes would be considered a major escalation. The conflict reached a significant milestone, marking its 1,000th day this week, further intensifying tensions between the two nations.

Ukraine's air force did not confirm the missile's warhead type but clarified that there was no evidence to suggest it was nuclear-armed. The ongoing war, which has caused widespread devastation, continues to see shifting dynamics as both sides pursue military strategies that target each other's critical assets.