The Ukrainian army accused Russia of having fired an intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday, November 21. This would be a first since the start of the conflict.
This could be a new escalation in the war in Ukraine. This Thursday, November 21, the Ukrainian air force accused Russia of having targeted it, for the first time since the start of the conflict, with an intercontinental ballistic missile.
No nuclear charge a priori
In a statement, Ukrainian troops assured that the device “was launched from the Russian region of Astrakhan”, in southwest Russia, during an attack on Dnipro. This Ukrainian city was targeted by nine missiles, including one described as intercontinental.
The attack left two people injured and minor damage according to regional authorities. The Pivdenmash (Youzhmash in Russian) satellite manufacturing plant, located near the city center, was hit. “We have never had this type of missile before,” confirmed a source within the army to AFP, before specifying that it is “obvious” that the device did not carry a nuclear charge, given the limited extent of the damage.
This type of weapon, vector of Russian nuclear deterrence, is designed to transport nuclear warheads and strike thousands of kilometers away. But it can also be equipped with a conventional charge, which seems to be the case here.
Tension rises between Moscow and the West
The use of such a missile, if confirmed, comes at a time when tensions between Moscow and the West are at their peak. Russia had also said it was preparing an “appropriate” response to Ukraine’s use of Western missiles on Russian territory, which it considered to be a red line.
On Tuesday, kyiv used American ATACMS missiles for the first time, with a range of 300 km, against a military installation in the Bryansk region. The Russian Defense Ministry also claimed to have shot down “two British-made “Storm Shadow” cruise missiles” fired by Ukraine.
In this context, Moscow formalized on Tuesday its new doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons, which stipulates that it can use them in the event of a “massive” attack by a non-nuclear country but supported by a nuclear power. A clear reference to Ukraine and the United States.
Moscow DOES NOT comment
For now, the Kremlin has refused to comment on the Ukrainian accusation. Questioned on this subject by the media, the spokesperson for the Russian presidency, Dmitry Peskov, affirmed that Russia would make “maximum efforts” to avoid a nuclear war. During a press conference this Thursday, the spokesperson for Russian diplomacy was ordered live not to comment on the missile attack in Ukraine.
During the briefing, Maria Zakharova was interrupted by a phone call in which a voice was heard telling her: “Regarding the ballistic missile strike on Yuzhmash (factory), which the West has started talking about. Don’t comment at all.” The interlocutor, who did not mention an intercontinental missile, was not identified.
For his part, Peter Stano, spokesperson for the European Commission, said he was following “information according to which Russia has used an intercontinental ballistic missile against one or more targets in Ukraine”. “It is obvious that such an attack would mark a new escalation on the part of Vladimir Putin,” he added.
