Ukraine accused Russia of launching an intercontinental ballistic missile during an overnight attack, a claim disputed by a Western official who said it was a ballistic missile but not an ICBM. The Kremlin did not immediately respond to the accusation. The Ukrainian air force claimed the alleged ICBM was launched from the Caspian Sea region of Astrakhan at the eastern city of Dnipro. They also stated that Moscow had attacked Dnipro with various missiles, including an air-launched ballistic missile and seven cruise missiles. Ukraine said the attack on Dnipro used a number of missiles, including the alleged ICBM.
The escalation in the conflict comes after Ukrainian forces used their first long-range U.S. ATACMS missiles to strike Russian soil, prompting a significant response from Moscow. The alleged deployment of an ICBM follows President Putin’s recent announcement to revise Russia’s nuclear doctrine, stating that a nuclear strike by Russia would be justified if attacked by a non-nuclear country supported by a nuclear state. The conflict, now lasting over 1,000 days, has seen various military actions and threats from both sides. The impact of the alleged ICBM attack on Dnipro and the specific details of the missile used are still being assessed.
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