Russia launched a ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro early Thursday, a move Ukraine claimed involved an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). If confirmed, it would mark the first use of such a weapon in the war. However, a Western official suggested it was likely a conventional ballistic missile.
The Ukrainian Air Force stated that the missile, along with six others, targeted critical infrastructure in Dnipro during a pre-dawn attack. "Today it was a new Russian missile. All the parameters: speed, altitude-match those of an intercontinental ballistic missile," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Experts are currently assessing the missile fragments to determine its exact type, he added.
The missiles were reportedly launched from Russia's Astrakhan region near the Caspian Sea. While six missiles were intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses, one struck industrial facilities and a rehabilitation center in Dnipro. Local officials reported no casualties but noted significant damage.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the ICBM claim, advising reporters to seek answers from the Russian Defense Ministry, which has not issued further statements. Meanwhile, U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey referred to the reports as "unconfirmed" but acknowledged that Russia had been preparing new ballistic missile systems for months.
The alleged deployment of an ICBM underscores rising tensions between Moscow and Kyiv. Earlier this week, Ukraine launched U.S.-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles into Russian territory, targeting ammunition depots. Zelenskyy stopped short of confirming these strikes but said, "Ukraine has ATACMS and will use all of these."
In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin updated the country's nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for deploying nuclear weapons. While Thursday's missile was not equipped with a nuclear warhead, its use highlights Russia's potential for escalation.
Western officials criticized Moscow's actions as reckless. "Putin is terrified when normal life simply exists next to him," Zelenskyy said. "He is doing whatever it takes to prevent his neighbor from breaking free of his grasp."
The strikes also come amid reports of Ukraine targeting Russian command posts with British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. According to Ukrainian military sources, these attacks focused on a site in Marino, Russia, where North Korean generals were reportedly present. North Korea has sent over 10,000 troops to support Russian forces, adding another layer of complexity to the conflict.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed it intercepted multiple Ukrainian weapons, including two Storm Shadow missiles, six HIMARS rockets, and 67 drones. However, the ministry did not provide details about the locations or targets of the intercepted weapons.
The potential use of an ICBM, even with a conventional payload, has raised fears of further escalation in the war, now nearing its 1,000th day. While Moscow and Washington have historically exchanged advance notifications for ICBM tests to prevent misinterpretations, such measures are being tested in the current climate of heightened tension.
