KYIV: Russia on Thursday launched an intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine for the first time, Kyiv claimed, marking the latest escalation of the conflict after Ukraine fired Western-supplied long-range missiles on Russia.
The Ukrainian air force claimed in a statement that Russian forces in the morning had launched several types of missiles at the central city of Dnipro, targeting critical infrastructure.
CNN, and AFP cited the Ukrainian air force as claiming Russian forces had used the missile in an early morning attack on the city of Dnipro.
“In particular, an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation,” the statement claimed.
AFP reported that it was the first such use of the weapon by Russia since the invasion in 2022.
The source added it was “obvious” that the missile, which is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads, did not carry a nuclear charge, according to AFP.
However, on the other hand, the Kremlin refused Thursday to comment on Ukrainian accusations that Russia had launched an inter-continental ballistic missile at Ukraine for the first time.
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Asked whether Russia fired the missile, which is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads and can hit targets thousands of kilometres away, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had “nothing to say on this topic”, CNN, APP reported.
Air defence units downed six missiles, the air force said, without elaborating on whether the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) had been downed.
The head of the wider region where the city of Dnipro is located said the Russian aerial bombardment had damaged a rehabilitation centre and several homes, as well as an industrial enterprise.
British media meanwhile reported on Wednesday that Kyiv had launched UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles at targets in Russia after being given the green light from London.
The defence ministry in Moscow said its air defence systems had downed two Storm Shadows, without saying whether they were downed on Russian territory or in occupied Ukraine.
