Russia fires first ICB missile towards Ukraine

In a historic escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow has launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the first known use of such a strategic weapon in active combat. The launch comes days after Ukraine deployed US and UK missiles against targets deep within Russian territory, intensifying the nearly three-year-long conflict.

Russia reportedly fired its RS-26 Rubezh missile, which has a range of 5,800 kilometres, according to Ukrainian and international reports. The missile, designed for delivering nuclear warheads, was reportedly launched without one in this instance. The strike targeted critical infrastructure and industrial sites in Ukraine's Dnipro region, injuring two people, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

The RS-26 Rubezh, first successfully tested in 2012, is 12 metres long and weighs 36 tons, making it a powerful component of Russia's strategic arsenal. Although the missile was not nuclear-armed, its deployment marks a significant shift in the scope of weapons used in the conflict. Alongside the ICBM, Russian forces also launched a Kinzhal hypersonic missile and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles, six of which were intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses.

The Russian government has not officially commented on the launch, but its move underscores a significant escalation, raising international concerns about the potential for broader military or nuclear conflict. ICBMs are traditionally part of a nation's nuclear deterrent and are rarely, if ever, used in conventional warfare.

Speaking about the incident, Andrey Baklitskiy, a researcher at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDR), called it "unprecedented." He stated on social media platform X, "If true, this will be totally unprecedented and the first actual military use of an ICBM. Not that it makes a lot of sense given their price and precision."

The incident highlights the increasing unpredictability of the war, which began in February 2022. With both sides escalating their arsenal, the use of advanced weaponry like ICBMs signifies a dangerous turn in the conflict's trajectory, alarming international observers and diplomatic communities.