KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine said Thursday that Russia had opened fire in the middle of the night on one of its cities. If confirmed, it would be the first time Moscow has used such a weapon in combat.
Ukraine has not provided any evidence that an ICBM was used in the attack on the central city of Dnipro, apparently armed with conventional weapons.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the weapon used “corresponds to the speed and altitude” of the ICBM. The Kremlin declined to comment on the strike.
The attack comes in a week where tensions have continued to rise, as the US lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles inside Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin lowered the threshold for launching nuclear weapons.
The range of the ICBM – which can exceed 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles) – exceeds what is needed to attack Ukraine. But such weapons are designed to carry nuclear weapons, and the use of one, even with a conventional payload, could serve as a frightening reminder of Russia’s nuclear capabilities. It also appears to send a message to Ukraine’s Western allies that Moscow can target them.
In a statement Thursday on the Telegram messaging app, the Ukrainian air force said an intercontinental ballistic missile was fired at Dnipro, along with eight other missiles, and that Ukrainian forces shot down six of them.
Two people were injured in the attack, and an industrial complex and a rehabilitation center for the disabled were damaged, according to local officials.
The air force statement did not specify the exact type of ICBM but said it was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region, on the Caspian Sea.
“Today, our crazy neighbor has shown again what he really is,” Zelenskyy said. “And how scared he is.”
UK officials did not immediately confirm what type of missile Russia fired. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman, Dave Pares, called the reports “deep” but added that the intelligence services were still looking into them.
“If it is true, it is clear that this would be another example of evil, careless and moral behavior from Russia and it will only serve to strengthen our determination,” he said.
Defense Secretary John Healey said there were “unconfirmed reports … of Russia firing new missiles into Ukraine, which we know they have been preparing for months.”
Ballistic missiles can have a range from less than 500 kilometers (310 miles) to more than 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles) in the case of an intercontinental range. “Ballistic” refers to the nature of their trajectory.
Since the Cold War, Moscow and Washington have given each other advance notice of ICBM launches to prevent the other side from perceiving the launch of a test as a nuclear attack.
They have continued to exchange warnings despite rising tensions – which have escalated again in recent days.
Earlier this week, the Biden administration authorized Ukraine to use US missiles to strike deep inside Russia – a move that drew ire from Moscow.
Days later, Ukraine fired several missiles into Russia, according to the Kremlin. On the same day, Putin signed a new doctrine that allows for a nuclear response to even a conventional attack on Russia by any country that maintains nuclear power.
The doctrine is broadly formulated to avoid a firm commitment to the use of nuclear weapons. In response, the West, including the US, said Russia had used nuclear rhetoric and tactics throughout the war to threaten Ukraine and other countries.
He also expressed his displeasure with the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to Russia to fight against Ukraine.
Also on Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that its air defense systems shot down two missiles made by the British Storm Shadow, six HIMARS rockets, and 66.
The statement did not say when or where the Storm Shadows were cast or what they were aimed at. Russia has previously said it will drop more missiles over the illegally occupied Crimean Peninsula.
Russia also struck Zelenskyy’s home town of Kryvyi Rih, injuring 26 people, said the regional governor, Serhii Lysak. The van attack caused damage to a government building, five multi-storied buildings, and civilian vehicles.
___ Associated Press writer Jill Lawless in London contributed this report. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine