Fri Nov 22 18:14:23 UTC 2024: **Russia Launches Intercontinental Ballistic Missile at Ukraine, Escalating War**
KYIV, UKRAINE – In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Ukraine for the first time Thursday, marking a significant turning point in the over 1,000-day war. The missile targeted Dnipro, a city in central-eastern Ukraine.
While the Kremlin remained silent on the incident, Ukraine’s air force reported the launch from Russia’s Astrakhan region, claiming to have intercepted six out of nine missiles launched. Reports indicate two civilians were injured, and an industrial facility and a rehabilitation center sustained damage. The Ukrainian Air Force did not specify the exact type of missile used.
This unprecedented action comes just two days after President Vladimir Putin signed a revised nuclear doctrine lowering the threshold for nuclear weapons use and issuing a warning to the US and NATO allies against supplying Ukraine with longer-range weapons. While the ICBM could carry a conventional warhead, the launch serves as a stark reminder of Russia’s nuclear capabilities and is seen as a powerful message to the West.
ICBMs are strategic weapons capable of traveling thousands of kilometers. Their trajectory involves a boost phase, a midcourse phase reaching speeds of up to 24,000 kilometers per hour, and a terminal phase where the warhead re-enters the atmosphere at speeds exceeding 3,200 kilometers per hour.
The incident marks a significant escalation in the war and raises serious international concerns. The lack of comment from the Kremlin further fuels anxieties about Russia’s intentions.
First Piper 