Speed, altitude of missile under ‘examination’ as West shoots down Zelensky’s ICBM claim

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday (Nov 21) that the speed and altitude of a missile fired at Dnipro in Ukraine by Russia indicated it was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) but “examinations are now under way.”

This came after a Western official earlier disputed the claim by Zelensky, saying the missile fired by Russia was instead 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.

However, the Reuters agency later quoted Western officials as saying that their assessment is based on initial analysis and could change based on further investigation. Some videos have emerged on social media claiming to show the Russian ICBM attack on Ukrainian soil. WION is unable to verify the authenticity of the footage.

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

Zelensky further described Russia as a “crazy neighbour”. In a statement on social media platform X, the Ukrainian leader wrote, “He (Russian President Vladimir Putin) is looking around the world for other places to find weapons: now in Iran, now in North Korea.” The Ukrainian president stressed that Russia was using Ukraine as a testing ground for its new weapons.

“It is obvious that Putin is using Ukraine as a training ground. It is obvious that Putin is afraid when there is simply a normal life around him. When people just have dignity. When the country simply wants to be and has the right to be independent,” he wrote.

EU, UK concerned over ICBM claims

The British government earlier warned that any ICBM attack by Russia would further escalate the war, calling the development “deeply concerning.” "If true, clearly, this would be another example of depraved, reckless, and escalatory behaviour from Russia," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's official spokesman told reporters.

France said any such launch would be “extremely serious.” "It's clear that if this launch is confirmed, it would be an extremely serious event and it would above all be a continuation of Russia's escalatory attitude," spokesman Christophe Lemoine of the French foreign ministry said.

What are ICBMs?

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)