By Anand Singha
CNBC-TV18.com
Published November 21, 2024
Ukraine accused Russia of using an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) to target Dnipro in the central-eastern region.
This is the first reported use of such a weapon in the conflict.
Ukraine’s air force stated the missile was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region overnight.
The exact type of missile remains unidentified, but its deployment underscores an escalation in the war.
The attack damaged an industrial enterprise, caused two fires, and hit a rehabilitation centre, destroying its boiler room and shattering windows.
Emergency power cuts were reported in Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions.
Designed for strategic purposes, ICBMs can deliver nuclear or conventional warheads over distances exceeding 5,500 kilometres.
Their use in active conflict is rare and signals a major escalation.
The launch of missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads follows President Putin’s recent revision of Russia’s atomic doctrine, which lowers the threshold for using nuclear weapons.
Reports suggest North Korean troops are joining Russian forces, indicating the conflict’s growing international dimension.