Fri Nov 22 22:22:53 UTC 2024: ## Kremlin Muzzles Spokesperson Amidst Claims of ICBM Use in Ukraine
**KYIV** – A leaked video appears to show Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova being instructed by “higher officials” to remain silent about a reported Russian ICBM strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. The video, which has gone viral, shows Zakharova receiving a phone call during a press conference where she is told not to comment on the alleged missile attack. The authenticity of the video has yet to be independently verified.
Ukraine claims Russia launched an ICBM overnight, targeting Dnipro, marking what would be the first use of such a weapon in the ongoing conflict. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated the missile’s speed and altitude were consistent with an ICBM, although no concrete evidence has been presented. The Kremlin has refused to comment.
The alleged attack followed heightened tensions, spurred by the US easing restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles and Russia’s lowering of its nuclear deployment threshold. The use of an ICBM, which has a range far exceeding that needed to strike Ukraine, is seen as a significant escalation, highlighting Russia’s nuclear capabilities and potentially signaling a threat to Ukraine’s Western allies.
Ukraine’s air force reported that an ICBM, along with eight other missiles, was launched from the Astrakhan region near the Caspian Sea. Six of the missiles were reportedly intercepted. The attack resulted in two injuries and damage to an industrial facility and a rehabilitation center. The type of ICBM used remains unconfirmed.
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