KYIV, Nov 21 (AFP): Moscow on Thursday launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Ukraine for the first time, Kyiv said, marking the latest escalation of the conflict since Ukraine fired Western-supplied long-range missiles on Russia.
The Ukrainian air force said in a statement that Russian forces in the morning had launched several types of missiles at the central city of Dnipro, targeting critical infrastructure.
"In particular, an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation," the statement said. A source in the Ukrainian air force confirmed to AFP that it was the first time since the Kremlin launched its invasion that its forces had deployed the weapon.
The source added it was "obvious" that the missile, which is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads, did not carry a nuclear charge.
Asked whether Moscow fired the missile, which can hit targets thousands of kilometres away, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had "nothing to say on this topic."
Air defence units downed six missiles, the air force said, without elaborating on whether the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) had been downed.
The head of the wider region where the city of Dnipro is located said the Russian aerial bombardment had damaged a rehabilitation centre and several homes, as well as an industrial enterprise.
"Two people were wounded-a 57-year-old man was treated on the scene and a 42-year-old woman was hospitalised," the official, Sergiy Lysak.
Russia and Ukraine have escalated their use of deadly long-range missiles over recent days since the United States gave permission to use its ATACMS against military targets inside Russia-a long-standing Ukrainian request.
Ukraine fires UK Storm Shadow
missiles into Russia
Meanwhile, Ukraine has fired UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for the first time, British media reported Wednesday, after being given the green light from London.
Several missiles were launched against at least one Russian military target, The Financial Times said, citing an unidentified Western official.
The Times said government sources had confirmed the use of the long-range missiles for the first time.
The Guardian said Britain had given Ukraine permission to use the missiles in Russia in response to Moscow's deployment of North Korean troops on the border.
Russian pro-Kremlin military bloggers wrote that around a dozen Storm Shadow missiles were fired on a target in the Kursk border region, which is partially held by Ukrainian forces.
Ukrainian media posted aerial video footage from a drone showing a series of explosions at what appears to be a country estate, naming the location as Maryino, where the presidential administration has a sanatorium.
Ukrainian media reported the strikes could have targeted an underground military command centre. Neither Moscow nor Kyiv have officially confirmed the missile attack or the use of Storm Shadows.
The reported attack came after Washington this week said it had cleared Ukraine to use its ATACMS against military targets inside Russia-a long-standing Ukrainian request.
Russia said Tuesday that the missiles had been used to target a military facility in the Bryansk border region.
The reported strikes came as Moscow looks to retaliate against Ukraine for firing US-supplied long-range missiles on Russian territory for the first time and with the Kremlin accusing outgoing US President Joe Biden of dragging out the war.
Russia has ramped up deadly missile strikes in recent days, targeting residential areas and Ukraine's energy grid. Air alerts blare out across the country daily.
The United States said Wednesday morning that it was shutting its Kyiv office to the public after having received "specific information of a potential significant air attack".
