The missile, potentially capable of carrying nuclear warheads, was launched alongside other advanced munitions, including hypersonic and cruise missiles, targeting the city of Dnipro.
ICBM deployment raises alarms
Ukraine’s air force said the ICBM was fired from Russia’s Astrakhan region, though the exact type of missile and its payload remain unidentified. Speculation has centered on the RS-26 "Rubezh," a missile with a reported range of up to 6,000 kilometers and the capacity to carry multiple warheads.
While no evidence suggests the missile was nuclear-armed, its deployment underscores escalating tensions. Ukrainian authorities reported significant damage to industrial facilities and fires in Dnipro, where at least three people were killed and 22 injured. Six of the seven KH-101 cruise missiles launched during the same attack were intercepted by Ukrainian defenses.
Strategic and symbolic implications
Intercontinental ballistic missiles are typically reserved for nuclear deterrence, making their use in the Ukraine war particularly significant. Analysts have questioned whether the United States, a key ally of Ukraine, was informed of the launch in advance—a customary practice to avoid triggering global missile warning systems.
"Launching an ICBM during an active conflict raises critical concerns about escalation and miscalculation," noted Defense Express, a Ukrainian defense consultancy. The consultancy also highlighted the geopolitical implications of using such weapons amidst international tensions.
Escalation on multiple fronts
The missile attack follows a week of heightened tensions as Ukraine marked 1,000 days since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Kyiv has recently employed U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles and British Storm Shadow cruise missiles in strikes against Russian territory, including the Kursk region.
Moscow has repeatedly warned that the use of Western-provided weapons to target Russian soil constitutes a severe escalation. Ukrainian officials argue such capabilities are vital to neutralize Russian bases supporting the invasion.
In a parallel development, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv temporarily closed on Wednesday due to the threat of significant air attacks but reopened the following day.
Global stakes amid U.S. political shifts
This escalation comes as U.S. President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine’s use of advanced munitions against Russian targets, just two months before his term ends. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to end the conflict but provided no details, raising uncertainty about future U.S. support for Kyiv.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Biznes Alert, Reuters