According to Kyiv’s air force, Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile aimed at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, marking the first instance of using a nuclear-capable weapon in the 1,000-day war.
Nevertheless, following the Ukrainian Air Force‘s assertions, Reuters cited two Western officials who contradicted Kyiv’s claims after conducting their own evaluation.
Western officials, who requested anonymity when speaking to news agency Reuters, stated that their evaluation was preliminary and subject to potential alterations pending further inquiry.
Moscow stated that Ukraine’s deployment of the ATACMS, the farthest-reaching missiles provided by Washington, was a definite indication of the West’s desire to intensify the conflict.
Earlier today, Reuters reported from a source in Ukrainska Pravda, a media outlet in Kyiv, that Russia launched its RS-26 Rubezh missile, which has a range of 5,800 kilometers, far into Ukrainian territory. Nevertheless, the missile did not have a nuclear warhead on board.
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According to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the RS-26 was first tested successfully in 2012 and is believed to measure 12 meters in length and weigh 36 tons.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also alleged that Russia launched an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile and mentioned that experts were looking into determining the missile’s specific type.
Apart from the RS-26 missile, the Russian military launched a Kinzhal hypersonic missile and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles, with six of them being intercepted, as reported by Reuters citing the Ukrainian Air Force.
Russia, who launched an invasion on Ukraine in February 2022, did not provide an immediate response to the Ukrainian Air Force’s statement.
ICBMs are strategic weapons created to carry nuclear warheads and play a crucial role in Russia’s nuclear deterrence capability.
During the ICBM’s launch, a UNIDR official described it as “unprecedented.”
