Ukraine claims Russia fired intercontinental ballistic missile at Dnipro

Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) targeting the city of Dnipro. If this is verified, it will mark the first instance of such a long-range missile being used in any military confrontation.

Not everyone accepted the claim right away. According to ABC News, which referenced western officials, it was an overstated assertion. In reality, the weapon in question was a shorter-range ballistic missile, much like those that Russia has frequently deployed against Ukraine throughout the conflict.

According to the air forces, nine missiles were fired at businesses and essential infrastructure in Dnipro between 5 AM and 7 AM local time from the Astrakhan region in Russia. If this is verified, it indicates that the missiles likely covered a distance of around 500 miles (800 km) to hit their intended targets.

The air force reported that the missile struck but had no apparent impact, though they noted that they still had not received details about any casualties. According to their morning update, six out of the nine missiles were intercepted and destroyed by air defense systems.

John Healey, the UK defense secretary, informed members of Parliament that he had seen media reports claiming that Russia had deployed "a new ballistic missile against Ukraine." However, he characterized these reports as not yet verified.

A video reportedly capturing the event from afar displayed numerous flashes illuminating the ground.

Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) can potentially travel over 6,200 miles, which means they could hit the US east coast from Astrakhan. These missiles can also carry nuclear warheads, indicating that if they were actually used, it would serve as a message from Moscow.

Russia has not formally confirmed the deployment of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), and its defense ministry did not mention it during their daily update.

During a live press conference on Thursday, Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, seemed to accidentally disclose some information regarding the early morning attack.

A live microphone picked up Zakharova talking on the phone with someone whose identity isn't known. During the call, the person advised her not to make any statements about the "ballistic missile strike." Interestingly, the caller avoided using the term intercontinental.

In a short phone conversation, which can still be found on the foreign ministry's official account on X, the person on the line seems to reveal that the attack was aimed at the Yuzhmash military site in Dnipro.

A treaty between the United States and Russia, established in 2000, stipulates that both nations are supposed to inform each other at least 24 hours before conducting any missile launch that exceeds 500 kilometers. However, it is uncertain whether such notifications were actually given.

Pavel Podvig, a specialist in Russian nuclear armaments, stated that there is still insufficient information to conclude whether the weapon employed was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). He mentioned in a post on Bluesky that it’s important to approach the situation with skepticism and caution.

Utilizing an ICBM wouldn't be practical for military purposes due to their poor precision and high expense. However, he mentioned that "such an attack could serve a purpose as a form of communication."

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) were created in the 1950s during the peak of the Cold War, serving as a means for the Soviet Union and the United States to directly intimidate each other’s citizens with nuclear arms. According to estimates from US congressional research, Russia possesses around 326 ICBMs in its nuclear stockpile, yet no nation has ever used one in an armed conflict.

This week, both the US and the UK approved the use of Atacms and Storm Shadow missiles against targets located in or around the Kursk area of Russia. In reaction, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow would respond "appropriately" to the authorization to use Atacms.

On Wednesday, the US made a sudden announcement regarding the closure of its embassy in Kyiv, following a warning about a possible large-scale airstrike in Ukraine. The reason for this alert is still unclear, but the embassy is expected to reopen later. The US is paying close attention to Russian intercontinental ballistic missile activities due to concerns about threats to its homeland.

Ukraine did not specify what kind of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) it thought had been launched, and there was no immediate evidence to support this. However, the path of the missile would be clear to Ukraine's air defense systems and its allies in the West.

Early accounts from Dnipro provided only a partial view of the effects on residents. Serhiy Lysak, the leader of the civil military administration, stated that an industrial facility had sustained damage and that there had been two fires within the city.