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In a striking development reported on Thursday, Russia has utilized an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) for the first time in its ongoing military conflict with Ukraine, targeting the central-eastern city of Dnipro. This mark a significant escalation in warfare tactics and international tension. According to Ukraine, the missile launch occurred from Russia's Astrakhan region, over 700 km away from Dnipro, and was possibly a nuclear-capable RS-26 Rubezh missile.
The RS-26 Rubezh, a missile with strategic nuclear capabilities, represents a major shift in the dynamic of Russia's military tactics, previously restricted to conventional weaponry. Despite this, there was no indication from Ukraine's officials or the Russian government that the missile was armed with a nuclear warhead during this particular launch.
This event follows a series of hostile exchanges, including Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied long-range weapons targeting deep within Russian territory, and Russia's subsequent threats of severe repercussions. Ukraine’s response, leveraging U.S. and British missiles, notably heightened the stakes, involving NATO countries more directly in the conflict.
The use of such high-capacity weapons like the RS-26 – which can be equipped with a Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) payloads, primarily associated with nuclear arms – sends a robust strategic message. It underscores the intensifying arms race and the precariousness of regional security in Eastern Europe. The missile's deployment to Dnipro damaged local industrial infrastructures and ignited fires, causing injuries to civilians according to regional governor Serhiy Lysak.
The international community has reacted with concern. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called for immediate global attention and reaction to Russia’s new level of military engagement. Security experts around the world speculate about the implications of this development. Some see it as a direct act of deterrence, or as a demonstration of military prowess and capability by Russia, especially following the increased involvement of Western military equipment in Ukraine.
The situation is further complicated by geopolitical maneuvers. With U.S. President Joe Biden’s tenure ending soon and the forthcoming return of Donald Trump, who has expressed a desire to negotiate an end to the war, the use of such advanced military technology could be seen as an attempt by Russia to strengthen its negotiating position.
As international bodies like NATO and national security departments around the world monitor the unfolding situation, the immediate future remains uncertain. The deployment of an ICBM in the Ukraine conflict not only marks a historic military moment but also significantly raises the stakes for international diplomatic and military engagement in the region.