Russia accused of using an intercontinental missile to strike Dnipro: a first in the conflict

The Ukrainian army claimed on Thursday 21 November that Russia had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile at the town of Dnipro, marking a turning point in the military escalation. This type of weapon, designed primarily to carry nuclear warheads, had never before been used since the start of the Russian invasion.

A missile of exceptional range

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the missile was fired from the Astrakhan region of Russia.

‘This is the first time this type of missile has been used against Ukraine,’ a Ukrainian military source told AFP.

Intercontinental missiles, with a range of more than 5,500 kilometres, are often associated with nuclear capabilities, although they can also carry conventional warheads.

An attack with far-reaching consequences

The strike injured two people and caused extensive material damage in Dnipro. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry detailed the destruction:

• A rehabilitation centre for disabled people damaged, with a boiler room partially destroyed and broken windows.
• A fire in a two-storey residential building.
• Damage to an industrial business and a garage cooperative.

At the same time, another attack on the neighbouring town of Kryvyï Rig, 100 kilometres south-west of Dnipro, injured 17 people, according to regional governor Serguiï Lyssak.

An ambiguous response from Moscow

The Kremlin, through its spokesman Dmitri Peskov, refused to comment on the accusations:

‘I have nothing to say on this subject.’

Moscow has also remained silent on other strikes reported by the Ukrainian army, which claims to have shot down six Kh-101 cruise missiles fired during the same offensive.

Escalating tensions with the West

The attack comes against a backdrop of rising tensions between Russia and Kiev’s Western allies. Moscow has stepped up its strikes while warning countries supporting Ukraine. On Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Defence said it had intercepted two British-made Storm Shadow missiles fired by Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Kiev recently used US ATACMS missiles against Russian military installations for the first time, marking a change in the arsenal deployed by Ukraine.

As the conflict approaches its third year, this military escalation heightens uncertainty about how the war will evolve, at a time when Donald Trump’s anticipated return to the US presidency could upset the geopolitical balance.