Ukraine has accused Russia of launching an intercontinental ballistic missile as part of a recent attack, marking the first time such a weapon has been used in the conflict. However, a Western official disputed this claim, stating that while a ballistic missile was fired, it was not an ICBM. The Kremlin has not responded to these accusations.
The alleged missile was reportedly targeting the city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine, but the exact type of missile used has not been confirmed. Ukrainian forces have also recently used other long-range missiles to strike Russian soil, prompting warnings of significant responses from Moscow.
While the deployment of an ICBM by Russia is concerning, experts suggest that the risk of actual nuclear use in the conflict is low due to current political and battlefield developments. Additionally, the use of such weapons could have diplomatic repercussions and risk alienating key international partners.
Overall, the situation in Ukraine remains tense, with escalating military actions on both sides. However, analysts caution against automatically assuming the immediate danger of an ICBM launch signifies an imminent nuclear threat, as there could be other motivations behind such a move.
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