Russia has allegedly launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during an attack on Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.
This is believed to be the first use of such a weapon, designed for delivering nuclear strikes over long distances, in the ongoing conflict.
The Ukrainian Air Force identified the missile as an RS-26 Rubezh, capable of carrying an 800-kg nuclear warhead and with a range of 5,800 km. However, there was no indication that the missile was nuclear-armed, and Russia has not commented on the allegation. The missile reportedly targeted infrastructure in the city of Dnipro, causing damage to industrial facilities and injuring two people.
Experts have described the alleged use of an ICBM in a conventional conflict as unprecedented, noting that these weapons are typically reserved for strategic deterrence. They highlighted the potential escalation such a deployment could signify.
The launch from Astrakhan follows a week of heightened tensions, with Ukraine using Western-supplied long-range missiles to strike targets deep within Russia. Moscow has repeatedly warned that such actions could be considered major escalations in the conflict. Russian sources have claimed that British Storm Shadow cruise missiles were used to target its Kursk region, while Ukraine has also reportedly deployed U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles.