Russia has struck Ukraine with a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in what would be a first during the war since it began in February 2022, according to Kyiv.
The Ukrainian Air Force said that the intercontinental ballistic missile was fired on November 21, 2024, from the Astrakhan region of Russia before hitting the city of Dnipro.
An assortment of missiles were fired by Russia between 05:00 and 07:00 including X-47M2 “Kinjal” and from the “Tu-95MS strategic bombers seven-winged missiles X-101″.
Ukrainian defenses destroyed six X-101 missiles, but photos published by the State Emergency Service show that Dnipro did sustain significant damage.
In a Telegram post the State Emergency Service said that a 10-story building in a residential area and a rehabilitation center were damaged, and more than a dozen people were injured.
Вранці ворог атакував Дніпро: поранено 2 людей.
— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) November 21, 2024
Пошкоджено центр реабілітації, котельню, житловий будинок, промислове підприємство та гаражний кооператив.
Рятувальники ліквідували всі пожежі. pic.twitter.com/yIes39yhmJ
Unconfirmed footage allegedly showing the reentry of multiple warheads over Dnipro associated with a “MIRV” payload was shared on social media.
New footage of today's Russian Federation attack with an ICBM on the Dnipro pic.twitter.com/JToS3vbq87
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) November 21, 2024
However, a Western official told ABC News that the attack did not appear to be an ICBM and damage was instead caused by a ballistic missile.
It is understood that on November 20, 2024, Ukraine fired Franco-British SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow cruise missiles at Russia’s Kursk region for the first time after US ATACMS missiles were used the day before.
The attacks were significant as it was the first time Western governments had allowed for such long-range weaponry to be used against Russian territory.
The stealthy air-launched weapons can strike targets over 300 kilometers (185 miles) away and have an explosive payload of 450 kilograms, making them highly desirable for Ukrainian forces that have adapted Soviet-era Su-24 bombers to use them.
Attempts by Russian President Vladimir Putin to dissuade the use of ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles by changing its nuclear doctrine appear to have been largely ignored.
The amended doctrine now says an attack by a state (non-nuclear) with the “participation or support of a nuclear power” will be seen as their “joint attack” on Russia.