Russia Launches ICBM Against Ukraine: Shocking First in Wartime History

Russia Launches ICBM Against Ukraine

For the first time since the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian army launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into Ukraine

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated significantly, marked by the reported launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by Russia, which would be a historic first in the ongoing conflict. This development follows Ukraine’s deployment of long-range missiles, supplied by the U.S. and Britain, to strike Russian territory, prompting warnings from Moscow about a “major escalation.”

The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the use of ICBMs in attacks on Dnipro, although it remains unclear whether these were nuclear-capable. In response, Ukraine has conducted strikes using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles and U.S.-provided ATACMS, targeting Russian positions.

The situation is further complicated by concerns over communication between the U.S. and Ukraine regarding missile launches, as well as the temporary closure of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine due to air strike warnings.

Key Concepts

• The Ukrainian Air Force reported the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by Russia, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.
• This missile launch follows Ukraine’s deployment of long-range missiles supplied by the U.S. and Britain, which Russia views as a provocation.
• Russia’s recent nuclear strategy lowers the threshold for using nuclear weapons in response to attacks from non-nuclear states supported by nuclear-armed allies.
• The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the use of ICBMs in attacks on Dnipro, but details on the type of warheads remain undisclosed.
• The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has entered its 1,000th day, with heightened military actions reported on both sides.
• Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted six out of seven Kh-101 cruise missiles launched by Russian fighters.
• Concerns have been raised about whether the U.S. was informed in advance of the missile launch, which is crucial for missile defense coordination.
• In retaliation, Ukraine targeted Russian territory using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, leading to reported interceptions by Russian air defenses.
• Ukraine conducted its first missile strikes on Russian territory with U.S.-provided ATACMS following President Biden’s approval.
• The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine temporarily closed due to air strike warnings but planned to resume operations the next day.

The Ukrainian Air Force said on Thursday (November 21) that Russia launches ICBM against Ukraine. This is also the first time since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war that the Russian army has launched such a powerful strategic missile with a range of thousands and tens of thousands of kilometers and can carry nuclear warheads to Ukraine.

This week, Kiev launched long-range missiles provided by the United States and Britain at the Russian mainland for the first time despite Russia’s warnings. Therefore, the outside world regards Russia’s launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles as Moscow’s retaliation against Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly threatened in recent times that if Western countries allow Ukraine to use the long-range weapons they provide to strike the Russian mainland, it will be regarded as a “major escalation” of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

However, after Kiev accused the Russian military of launching an intercontinental ballistic missile, Moscow did not immediately comment or take action in response.

The Associated Press pointed out that if the news that the Russian army launched an intercontinental ballistic missile is true, it will mark the first time in Russia’s history that it has used the strategic weapon of intercontinental ballistic missiles in war.

The Associated Press believes that since intercontinental ballistic missiles are mainly used for the strategic mission of delivering nuclear warheads, using intercontinental ballistic missiles against Ukraine is obviously an overkill. However, Moscow seems to be reminding everyone of Russia’s powerful nuclear arsenal and the prospect of escalation of the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Tuesday approving Russia’s new nuclear strategy that significantly lowers the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, considering an attack on Russia by a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear-armed state as a “joint attack” by both countries and potentially leading to Russian nuclear retaliation.

Intercontinental ballistic missiles are one of the important pillars of Russia’s triad nuclear deterrence strategy. However, Reuters pointed out that the Ukrainian Air Force did not specify what kind of warhead the intercontinental ballistic missile launched by the Russian army carried or what type of intercontinental ballistic missile it launched.

Reuters stressed that no one suggested that the intercontinental ballistic missiles launched by the Russian military carried nuclear warheads.

The Ukrainian Air Force pointed out that the Russian army used a variety of missiles to attack enterprises and key infrastructure in Dnipro on Thursday, but did not disclose the specific targets of the Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles and whether the attack caused casualties and losses. Reuters quoted Serhiy Lysak, governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, as saying that the Russian missile attack damaged an industrial enterprise in Dnipro, caught fire at two locations in the city, and injured two people in the attack.

The Ukrainian Air Force said Russian fighters launched a Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missile and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles from their aircraft. Ukrainian air defenses shot down six Kh-101 cruise missiles.

“What is special is that an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation,” Reuters quoted a Ukrainian Air Force statement as saying. The statement did not specify which type of intercontinental ballistic missile the Russian military used.

Ukrainian defense consultancy Defense Express raised the question of whether the United States, Ukraine’s main ally, was informed in advance of Russia’s impending launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

“The question is whether the United States was alerted to the (missile) launch and the direction of its flight, as such notification of the launch is a prerequisite to preventing the triggering of missile early warning systems and the launch of missiles in response,” Reuters quoted the Defense Express report as saying.

Reuters noted that tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated sharply this week as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reached its 1,000th day.

The Associated Press reported that the Ukrainian army launched several British-supplied Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles at Kursk Oblast, which borders Ukraine, on Wednesday. A statement issued by the Russian Ministry of Defense on Thursday said that the Russian air defense forces shot down two British-made Storm Shadow missiles, six HIMARS long-range rockets, and 67 Ukrainian drones.

Reuters pointed out that a spokesman for the Ukrainian General Staff said he had no information on this, and Russian officials did not immediately confirm the missile attack in Kiev. The damage caused by the missile attack is also unknown to the outside world.

Ukraine launched its first U.S.-provided long-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile strikes on Russian soil on Tuesday after U.S. President Joe Biden finally approved Ukraine’s request to use the Ukrainian military’s ATACMS to strike Russian soil.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that the Ukrainian army’s use of Western long-range weapons to attack the Russian mainland far away from the border means a “major escalation” of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, but Ukraine insists that attacking Russia’s rear bases supporting the war of aggression against Ukraine is necessary to defend Ukraine and is an important factor in Ukraine’s “victory plan.”

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine announced on Wednesday that it had closed for one day due to an early warning of “possible major air strikes.” However, the embassy later announced that the U.S. Embassy in Kiev would resume operations starting Thursday.