Russia launched an "experimental medium-range ballistic missile" at Ukraine today, a high-ranking representative of the US government said, quoted by France Press, writes BTA.
He told AFP that Russia is "trying to intimidate Ukraine and the countries that support it by using this weapon or to attract attention, but this will not change the situation in this conflict.
Earlier today, the Ukrainian Air Force announced that the Russian military had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile at a target in the city of Dnipro (Dnipro in Ukrainian - note ed.) in the central-eastern part of the country. Kiev has not provided evidence to support its claim, which, if confirmed, would mark the first time such a missile has been used since the start of the war, which began more than 1,000 days ago.
So far, there is no reaction from Russia. However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was instructed live while giving a briefing not to comment on the topic.
Russia has made it clear that it is preparing an "appropriate response" of Ukraine's use of Western missiles to strike at its territory - a development that Moscow defined as a red line, AFP notes.
The Associated Press points out that the range of an intercontinental ballistic missile, which can exceed 5,500 kilometers, exceeds what is needed to attack Ukraine. However, such missiles are designed to carry nuclear warheads, and using one, even with a conventional payload, would serve as a chilling reminder of Russia's nuclear capability. It also appears to send a message to Ukraine's Western allies that Moscow has the ability to target them.