Russia employed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) for the first time in the conflict.

 Russia employed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) for the first time in the conflict.

A facility caught fire in the Russian attack. Photo: AFP in the city of Dnipro, Ukraine, today Thursday

Russia launched an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) at Ukraine for the first time in history, striking the eastern city of Dnipro on Thursday. This marks a significant escalation in the conflict, with experts calling the attack "unprecedented" due to the unprecedented use of such a powerful missile on the battlefield.

The deployment of ICBMs has added a new and alarming dimension to the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has now entered its third year. Prior to this, Ukraine had launched long-range missiles, supplied by the United States and the United Kingdom, into Russian territory for the first time in recent days, prompting a stern warning from Moscow. In response, Russia carried out its ICBM strike.

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ICBMs are typically designed to carry nuclear payloads, but it is widely believed that the missile used in this attack was not armed with nuclear warheads. Ukrainian authorities have not provided clarity on this matter. According to Ukrainian media outlet Ukrainian Pravda, the missile in question is the RS-26 Rubezh, a ballistic missile capable of reaching targets 5,800 kilometers away.

The RS-26 Rubezh was first successfully tested by Russia in 2012, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), based in Washington, D.C. Standing at 40 feet tall and weighing 36,000 kg, the missile can carry a warhead weighing up to 800 kg.

While the Ukrainian military has not disclosed the full extent of the damage from the ICBM strike, the country's air force confirmed that the missile was launched from the Astrakhan region of Russia, over 700 kilometers from Dnipro. Local authorities reported that the attack ignited a fire at an industrial plant in the city, injuring two people.

Russia has not officially commented on the strike. When asked about the attack, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov directed reporters to the Russian military for a response. Meanwhile, Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also refrained from commenting on the incident.

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