Russia has launched what Ukraine says was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at its territory, in what would mark both the first such attack in the nearly three-year-old conflict and the first combat use of an ICBM in history.
The attack targeted infrastructure in the eastern city of Dnipro, Ukrainian officials said, though the extent of damage remains unclear.
A BBC correspondent reported that explosions rocked the city for three hours on Thursday morning.
Russia has not commented on the ICBM claim. Instead, Moscow said it had intercepted two British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, without providing further details.
The apparent use of an ICBM could signal a strategic shift in response to Western-supplied missiles being used against Russian targets.
Analysts suggest it demonstrates Moscow’s capability to strike anywhere globally with missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, though the Dnipro attack appeared to use conventional weapons.
Military experts say the deployment of longer-range, more powerful missiles represents a concerning escalation for Ukraine, though the Western response is likely to remain limited to condemnation and continued support for Ukrainian drone and missile capabilities.
(information from BBC/image source: EPA)
