'It was a ballistic missile,' Western official rejects Ukraine's ICBM claim against Russia

A Western official on Thursday (Nov 21) denied a claim by Ukraine that Russia had launched an intercontinental ballistic missile from its southern Astrakhan region, saying it was a ballistic missile.

“It was instead a ballistic missile, which was aimed at Dnipro, in Ukraine’s southeast," the western official was quoted as saying by ABC News.

The reported strike comes in a possible retaliation to Ukraine's use of US and British missiles to strike targets inside Russia this week. Moscow had, for months, warned that the use of American missiles to strike inside its borders would be seen as a major escalation. 

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What did the Russian ICBM target?

As per a statement by the Ukraine Air Force, the latest Russian attack targeted enterprises and critical infrastructure in Ukraine's central-eastern city of Dnipro. 

"In particular, an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation," the statement said, without mentioning what kind of ICMB was used in the attack.

The air force said that it had downed six Russian Kh-101 cruise missiles, but did not elaborate on whether the ICMB was downed.

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A rehabilitation centre, homes, and an industrial enterprise were damaged by Russian airstrikes in Dnipro, according to the regional head.

"Two people were wounded — a 57-year-old man was treated on the scene and a 42-year-old woman was hospitalised," said the official, Sergiy Lysak, as reported by AFP.

A rehab centre for disabled people was damaged in the attack, but no injuries were reported. Nine garages and an industrial facility were also damaged, said Lysak. He added that strikes on Kryvyi Rih, west of Dnipro, injured two other people, who were transported to a hospital, an administrative building was destroyed, and two residential buildings were damaged.

What are ICMBs?

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are missiles that can travel a long range of over 5,500 km (3,418 miles), which means they can strike targets virtually anywhere in the world. These missiles can carry conventional weapons as well as nuclear warheads.

(With inputs from agencies)