First intercontinental ballistic missile strike targets Ukraine: How it works

It is unclear which specific missile Russia launched at Ukraine today. Analysts suggest it could have been either the RS-26 Rubezh or the Yars missile.

The RS-26 Rubezh is classified as a medium-range ballistic missile capable of traveling thousands of kilometers. However, today's missile's actual flight distance in a straight line was approximately 800 kilometers.

Photo: Yars missile launch (defence-ua.com)

The missile was launched from the Astrakhan region, likely from the Kapustin Yar testing range, at around 5 a.m. Kyiv time.

Missiles of this class are usually launched from mobile ground-based systems. First, during launch, a special ejection charge is triggered, which shoots the missile itself from the container. After that, the solid-fuel engine of the first stage is started.

Such missiles consist of three stages. The first one is supposed to lift the target to a height in the rarefied atmosphere. Then, the second and third stages start working sequentially.

Defence Express explains that such missiles follow a ballistic trajectory, often reaching space. During this phase, a mechanism called the "bus" separates the warheads from the main body and deploys both warheads and decoys to confuse enemy defenses.

Strike with new missile

Early on November 21, Russia launched a missile strike at Ukraine. The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Russian military launched an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time from the Astrakhan region. The air strike also included the Kinzhal missile and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles.

Ukraine's air defense successfully intercepted six Kh-101 missiles. The remaining missiles caused no significant damage.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Russia's usage of the intercontinental ballistic missile, adding that expert analysis is ongoing.

Read our detailed material to learn more about the Russian missile RS-26 Rubezh.