In a new escalation of the conflict, Kyiv accused Russia of attacking Ukraine with intercontinental ballistic missiles for the first time on Thursday, but without a nuclear warhead.
While the Kremlin stated it was taking all necessary precautions to prevent a nuclear exchange but did not confirm it had fired the weapon, Ukraine claimed the missile had targeted the central city of Dnipro.
Since Ukraine fired long-range missiles supplied by the West on Russia, the Russian missile barrage on the industrial city, which injured two people, is the most recent escalation.
Russia launched a variety of missiles at Dnipro in the early hours of the morning, aiming at vital infrastructure, according to a statement from the Ukrainian air force.
“In particular, an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation,” said the statement.
AFP was informed by a Ukrainian air force source that this was the first use of the weapon since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
The missile is built to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads, so it was “obvious” that it did not carry a nuclear charge, the source continued.
Asked whether Moscow fired the missile, which can hit targets thousands of kilometres away, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had “nothing to say on this topic.”
The Kremlin, however, did claim it was making “maximum effort” to avoid a nuclear conflict after it updated its nuclear doctrine this week.
The new policy allows Moscow to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states and Russia said it should be seen as a warning to the West.
“We have stressed in the context of our doctrine that Russia is taking a responsible position to make maximum effort not to allow such a conflict,” Peskov added Thursday.
The air force stated that six missiles were shot down by Ukrainian air defense units, but it did not specify whether the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was one of them.
According to the leader of the larger area surrounding the city of Dnipro, the Russian aerial bombardment had harmed an industrial enterprise, a rehabilitation center, and a number of residences.
The official, Sergiy Lysak, stated, “Two people were wounded — a 42-year-old woman was hospitalized and a 57-year-old man was treated on the scene.”
Following the United States’ approval of Ukraine’s long-standing request to use its ATACMS against military targets inside Russia, Russia and Ukraine have increased their use of lethal long-range missiles in recent days.
Meanwhile, British media said Wednesday that Kyiv had fired Storm Shadow missiles provided by the UK at targets in Russia after being given the green light from London.
The defence ministry in Moscow said its air defence systems had downed two Storm Shadows, without saying whether they were downed on Russian territory or in occupied Ukraine.
The missile escalation is coming at a critical moment on the ground for Ukraine, as its defensive lines buckle under mounting Russian pressure across the sprawling front line.
Russia also on Thursday claimed deeper advances in the war-battered Donetsk region, announcing its forces had captured another village close to Kurakhove, closing in on the town after months of steady advances.
Moscow’s defence ministry said Russian forces had taken the small village of Dalne, five kilometres (three miles) south of Kurakhove.
