Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that a Russian offensive on Ukraine involving a novel ballistic missile represents a “clear and severe escalation” in the conflict and has urged for robust global condemnation.
“This marks a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war,” Mr. Zelensky expressed on X, referencing a strike on the central city of Dnipro.
“The deployment of a ballistic missile against Ukraine today further confirms Russia’s disinterest in pursuing peace.”
“The world needs to take action,” he added. “Currently, there is no strong response from the international community.”
In his remarks on X, Mr. Zelensky indicated that Mr. Putin’s admission of using this new weapon signifies another escalation in a war that has surpassed 1,000 days, especially after the involvement of North Korean troops on Russian soil.
Firefighters work at the site of a Russian missile strike in Dnipro (Image: Press Service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk region)
“Putin is not only extending the war — he is defiantly disregarding the efforts of those worldwide who genuinely seek peace,” he stated.
“The world must act. At present, there is no firm reaction coming from the global community… A lack of robust responses to Russia’s actions conveys that such behavior may be permissible.”
Intercontinental ballistic missiles are designed for long-range nuclear strikes and have never been utilized in combat until now.
Three U.S. officials indicated that it was an intermediate-range ballistic missile, which has a shorter range.
In Moscow, Mr. Putin declared in a televised address that Russia executed a medium-range ballistic missile assault on a Ukrainian military site in retaliation for recent Ukrainian long-range strikes using Western armaments.
He asserted that the West was aggravating the conflict in Ukraine, transforming it into a global issue.
This week, Ukraine launched U.S. and British missiles at targets within Russia, despite warnings from the Russian government that such actions would be seen as a significant escalation. Russia’s ambassador to London claimed that Britain was now “directly involved” in the conflict in Ukraine.
Mr. Putin announced that Russia had conducted combat tests of the ‘Oreshnik’ (the hazel) hypersonic missile system in response to NATO countries’ aggressive maneuvers against Russia.
It was reported that Ukraine fired British Storm Shadow cruise missiles into Russia’s Kursk region bordering Ukraine (File image)
“In retaliation for the use of American and British long-range munitions, on 21 November of this year, the Russian armed forces executed a combined strike on one of the military-industrial facilities in Ukraine,” he stated.
“During combat conditions, one of Russia’s newest medium-range missile systems underwent testing, including with a ballistic missile in a nuclear-free hypersonic configuration.”
Read More: What is the ICBM Ukraine says Russia fired?
Security experts noted that if the Dnipro strike involved an intercontinental ballistic missile, it would mark the first deployment of such a missile in combat. ICBMs are strategic weapons designed for delivering nuclear warheads and are a crucial aspect of Russia’s nuclear deterrent.
Intermediate-range ballistic missiles cover ranges between 3,000-5,500km.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry called on the global community to promptly react to what it described as “Russia’s use of a new type of weaponry.”
Volodymyr Zelensky said an investigation is under way into the attack
According to Ukraine’s air force, the ICBM that targeted Dnipro in central-eastern Ukraine was launched from the Russian region of Astrakhan, situated over 700km away.
“Regardless of whether it was an ICBM or an IRBM, the range is not the primary concern,” stated Fabian Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow at Oslo University who specializes in missile technology and nuclear strategy.
“The significant factor is that it carried a MIRVed (Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle) payload, which is crucial for signaling purposes and is the reason behind Russia’s choice. This payload is exclusively associated with nuclear-capable missiles.”
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia also unleashed a Kinzhal hypersonic missile and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles, with six intercepted.
The assault was aimed at enterprises and critical infrastructure in Dnipro, according to the air force.
Historically, Dnipro was a missile production hub during the Soviet era. Ukraine has bolstered its military industry throughout the war, keeping its locations discreet.
While the air force did not clarify what the ICBM was aimed at or if it inflicted any damage, regional governor Serhiy Lysak noted that the missile strike damaged an industrial facility and ignited fires in Dnipro. Two individuals sustained injuries.
A Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launcher rolls on Red Square during a Victory Day military parade in Moscow on 9 May
Before Mr. Putin’s statements, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov directed reporters to consult the Russian military for insights when queried about the Ukrainian air force’s remarks.
Ukrainska Pravda, a Kyiv-based news source, cited unnamed sources indicating that the missile was an RS-26 Rubezh, a solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 5,800 km, per the Arms Control Association.
The RS-26 was successfully tested for the first time in 2012 and is estimated to have a length of 12 meters and a weight of 36 tons, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The RS-26 is capable of carrying an 800kg nuclear warhead.
The RS-26 is classified as an ICBM under a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and Russia, though it may also be considered an intermediate-range ballistic missile when utilized with heavier payloads at ranges below 5,500 km, according to CSIS.
‘Totally unprecedented’
A group of glowing projectiles was observed plummeting to the ground from the night sky in a video published by Come Back Alive, a Ukrainian military charity. The organization claimed that the footage was taken in Dnipro overnight.
The NATO military alliance did not respond to a request for comment. The U.S. European Command stated it had no information on the reported use of an ICBM and redirected inquiries to the U.S. Department of Defense.
