Russia Launches Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles at Ukraine: A New Escalation in Conflict

Russia Launches Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles at Ukraine

MOSCOW, KOMPAS.com – On Thursday, November 21, 2024, Russia launched intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) at Ukraine for the first time. This escalation marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict since Ukraine began using long-range missiles supplied by Western nations against Russian territory.

Ukrainian military forces reported that several missiles targeted the city of Dnipro, striking key infrastructure. The ICBMs were launched from Astrakhan region in Russia. A source from the Ukrainian air force confirmed that this was the first time such action had been taken since the Kremlin’s invasion began.

Despite the charges, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the missile launches. Reports indicated that Ukrainian air defenses shot down six missiles, though it remained unclear if any ICBMs had fallen.

Damage was reported in Dnipro, where a rehabilitation center and several homes were hit, resulting in injuries to two individuals, including a 57-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman.

The recent conflict escalation follows the US granting permission for Ukraine to use its ATACMS missiles against military targets within Russia. Ukrainian officials had long sought the use of such long-range weapons from Western allies.

In a separate development, media reports indicated that Ukraine had also launched UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles into Russian territory, following authorization from London. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that its air defense systems intercepted two Storm Shadows, but did not specify whether they were shot down within Russia or in occupied territories.