Ukraine Says Russia Fired 'Intercontinental' Ballistic Missile For First Time In War

Last Updated:November 21, 2024, 19:07 IST

The air attack comes after Ukraine used US and UK-made missiles to strike military targets deep inside Russian territory this week.

A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is test-fired in Plesetsk, Russia in 2022 | Image/File (AP)

Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile from its southern Astrakhan region in a retaliatory attack on Ukraine on Thursday morning. It marks the first time Moscow has used such a powerful, long-range missile in the war.

However, a US official disputed Ukraine’s claim and said it was a ballistic missile but not an intercontinental ballistic missile, CBS News reported.

The air attack comes after Ukraine used US and UK-made missiles to strike military targets deep inside Russian territory this week, escalating the conflict that has already lasted 1,000 days.

The intercontinental ballistic missile, which has never been used in combat before, targeted the critical infrastructure in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, said officials, refusing to disclose the damages it caused.

The Ukrainian media reported on Wednesday that the Kremlin was threatening to strike the country with a “massive" new missile in a retaliatory attack for Kyiv’s firing of UK and US long-range missiles at Russian positions.

Over concerns of significant air attack, Western nations including the United States already closed down their embassies on Thursday in Kyiv, the Department of State Consular Affairs said in a statement.

Also READ: What Is An ICBM?

In a video on X, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said speed and altitude of the Russian missile suggest intercontinental ballistic capabilities.

“It’s clear that Putin is using Ukraine as a testing ground. It’s also clear that he is terrified of normal life next to him. A life where people live with dignity. A country that wants to be free and has the right to be independent," he said.

Ukraine Fires ‘Storm Shadow’

Within a day of launching US-developed long-range missiles, Ukraine fired British “Storm Shadow" missiles to strike military targets in Russia, something that Moscow has warned for months would be seen as a major escalation.

The missile strikes targeted military structures in Russia’s Kursk region, while others were intercepted over the Black Sea port city of Yeysk, according to reports from Russian channels linked to the military.

The residents claimed that they heard the sound of missiles striking the Kursk region which lies on Ukraine’s border. They heard at least 14 huge explosions and witnessed black smoke rising in the distance, according to reports from local media.

Earlier, Ukraine used US-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to hit Russian targets, only after the reported approval of US President Joe Biden, who instructed Kyiv to use missiles only in and around the Kursk region.

It comes as Russia’s war in Ukraine crossed 1,000 days and currently remains at a volatile juncture with increased military strikes and geopolitical situation. There is growing speculation about the future aid to Ukraine as US President-elect Donald Trump will replace Biden at the White House in January.

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News world Ukraine Says Russia Fired 'Intercontinental' Ballistic Missile For First Time In War