Russia escalates again: Key details on intercontinental missile strike on Ukraine
Photo: Russian army attacked Ukraine with an intercontinental missile (kremlin.ru)
This morning, Russia used an intercontinental ballistic missile in its war against Ukraine for the first time. Ukraine has become the first country in the world to face such a missile strike.
Details about the Russian attack and reactions from Ukraine and the international community read in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
Contents:
- What is known about the intercontinental ballistic missile strike on Ukraine
- What kind of missile attacked Ukraine
- What Ukraine says about the strike
- How the world reacted to the attack
What is known about the intercontinental ballistic missile strike on Ukraine
On the morning of November 21, Russian forces attacked Dnipro for two hours with various types of missiles. Among them, according to the Air Force, was an intercontinental ballistic missile launched from the Astrakhan region of Russia.
According to the Air Force, six cruise missiles were shot down by air defense systems during the attack on Dnipro. As for the other missiles, the Air Force reported no significant damage.
"More information or details regarding this morning's missile attack are not expected at this time. Please bear with us," explained Yurii Ihnat, Acting Head of the Communications Department of the Air Force Command, on his Facebook page.
However, in the afternoon, a video from a surveillance camera quickly spread on social networks, which allegedly captured the moment of the attack with an intercontinental ballistic missile.
What kind of missile attacked Ukraine
The exact type of intercontinental ballistic missile used in the attack on Ukraine is currently unknown. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi stated that conclusions from the ongoing analysis are expected to determine which missile Russia used in the attack.
At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that all the characteristics indicated that it was an intercontinental ballistic missile. However, Western sources have a different perspective.
US TV channels ABC News and NBC News cited an unnamed US official who suggested that the strike on Dnipro was likely not carried out with an intercontinental missile. The official claims that everything indicates that it was a conventional ballistic missile.
Yesterday, amid concerns from foreign embassies about a possible large-scale attack on Ukraine, information was circulating online that Russia might use the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. According to Suspilne's sources in law enforcement, preliminary information suggests that Ukraine was attacked today with just such a missile, but there is no official confirmation of this yet. More information about this missile can be found via the link.
Meanwhile, The Guardian, citing an anonymous British government representative, reported that British intelligence services are "urgently" investigating whether Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine.
What Ukraine says about the strike
Commenting on today’s attack, President Zelenskyy stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is afraid, and that is why he uses new types of missiles against Ukraine.
“It is evident that Putin is using Ukraine as a testing ground. It is evident that Putin fears normal life near him, where people live with dignity, and where a country simply wants and has the right to be independent,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Russian ballistic missile strike once again proves that Moscow does not seek peace, but instead makes every effort to escalate the war.
According to Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, today’s strike was an attempt by Putin to raise the stakes, but he failed.
"Russia is increasingly appearing more irrational than North Korea, and it is approaching the point where its toxicity to others will outweigh the benefits of using Russia as a raw material appendage," he wrote in his Telegram channel.
How the world reacted to the attack
In the UK, in light of reports about a Russian intercontinental ballistic missile strike on Ukraine, officials have stated they will continue to support Kyiv.
"If true, clearly this would be another example of grave, reckless and escalatory behavior from Russia and only serves to strengthen our resolve," an unnamed UK government representative told The Guardian.
Meanwhile, EU spokesperson Peter Stano, speaking at a briefing in Brussels, described Russia’s strike with an intercontinental missile as another step in the escalation of aggression in the war against Ukraine.
"We are, of course, following reports that Russia has used an intercontinental ballistic missile against a target or targets in Ukraine... It's obvious that such an attack or attacks could mark another clear escalation from the side of Putin," he said.
As for Russia, it seems they have decided not to make any official statements regarding the strike for now. Moreover, during a live stream by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a phone call with spokeswoman Maria Zakharova from an unidentified individual was caught, where she was asked not to comment on the morning strike.
The video, in which the unidentified caller’s words were picked up by Zakharova’s microphone, was later shared by Russian media. However, Zakharova later called the video a fake.
Sources: statements by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat, EU spokesperson Peter Stano, StratCom, Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council Andriy Kovalenko, as well as the materials by ABC News, NBC News, and The Guardian.
