Ukraine says Russia launched an intercontinental missile in an attack for the first time in the war

KYIV – Ukraine says Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile in a single day concentrating on Dnipro metropolis within the central-east of the nation, which, if confirmed, can be the primary time Moscow has used such a missile within the warfare.

In a press release Thursday on the Telegram messaging app, Ukraine’s air drive didn’t specify the precise sort of missile, however mentioned it was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan area, which borders the Caspian Sea.

It mentioned an intercontinental ballistic missile was fired at Dnipro metropolis together with eight different missiles, and that the Ukrainian army shot down six of them.

Two individuals have been wounded on account of the assault, and an industrial facility and a rehabilitation middle for individuals with disabilities have been broken, based on native officers.

Whereas the vary of an ICBM would appear extreme to be used in opposition to Ukraine, such missiles are designed to hold nuclear warheads, and using one would function a chilling reminder of Russia’s nuclear functionality and a strong message of potential escalation.

The assault comes two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a revised nuclear doctrine that formally lowers the brink for the nation’s use of nuclear weapons. Ukraine on Tuesday fired a number of American-supplied longer-range missiles and reportedly fired U.Ok.-made Storm Shadows on Wednesday into Russia.

The Russian Protection Ministry mentioned in a press release Thursday that its air protection techniques shot down two British-made Storm Shadow missiles, six HIMARS rockets, and 67 drones. The announcement got here within the ministry’s every day roundup concerning the army actions in Ukraine.

The assertion didn’t say when or the place precisely it occurred or what the missiles have been concentrating on. This isn’t Moscow’s first public announcement of the taking pictures down of Storm Shadow missiles, as Russia earlier reported downing some over the annexed Crimean Peninsula.

The developments come because the warfare has taken on a rising worldwide dimension with the arrival of North Korean troops to assist Russia on the battlefield — a growth that U.S. officers mentioned prompted U.S. President Joe Biden’s coverage shift on permitting Ukraine to fireplace longer-range U.S. missiles into Russia. The Kremlin responded with threats to escalate additional.

Putin has beforehand warned the U.S. and different NATO allies that permitting Ukraine to make use of Western-supplied longer-range weapons to hit Russian territory would imply that Russia and NATO are at warfare.

And the brand new doctrine permits for a possible nuclear response by Moscow even to a traditional assault on Russia by any nation that’s supported by a nuclear energy.

Whereas the doctrine envisions a doable nuclear response by Russia to a traditional strike, it’s formulated broadly to keep away from a agency dedication to make use of nuclear weapons and preserve Putin’s choices open.