Ukraine Avoids Confirming Russia’s ICBM Launch As Western Official Refutes Attack Claims

Russia-Ukraine War: An unnamed Western official cited by news agency Reuters refuted Kyiv's claim that Russia on Thursday used an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) to strike Ukraine. The official's negation of Ukraine's claim was based on initial analysis, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, France's foreign ministry also said that it was unable to confirm the Ukrainian claim, but noted that such a strike by Russia would indeed be a serious escalation in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Kyiv itself modified its claim, with the Ukrainian foreign ministry refraining from making any direct reference to an ICBM and urging the international community to react swiftly to Russia's use of a "new type of weaponry".

The allegation first came from the Ukrainian air force, which said Russia had for the first time used an ICBM to attack Ukraine during a strike on Dnipro city Thursday. The claim raised fears of a major escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Ukraine's Ukrainska Pravda media outlet cited sources to identify the projectile as Russia's RS-26 Rubezh ICBM. The speed and altitude of the missile suggest it was an ICBM, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had said amid the tensions sparked by the allegation. He had further said that experts were conducting an investigation to identify the type of missile.

The attack on Dnipro included a total of nine missiles, including the one initially identified as an ICBM by Kyiv. Air defence units shot down six cruise missiles, while the remaining projectiles caused no "significant consequences," as per the Ukrainian air forces.

Regional governor Sergii Lysak said the massive attack on Dnipro damaged an industrial enterprise and caused two fires in the city. The strike came days after Ukraine fired American and British missiles at targets inside Russia this week despite warnings by Moscow that it would see such action as a major escalation.

(With inputs from agencies)