Ukraine has accused Russia of firing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) targeting Dnipro in the central-eastern region of the country, marking a potential first in the ongoing conflict. If confirmed, this would represent a significant escalation in Moscow's military tactics.

In a statement released Thursday, November 21, 2024, via the Telegram messaging app, Ukraine's air force reported that the missile was launched from the Astrakhan region of Russia, near the Caspian Sea. The type of missile used was not specified, but the air force said the attack included eight missiles in total, six of which were intercepted by Ukrainian air defences.

Local officials in Dnipro confirmed that two people were wounded in the strike. The attack caused damage to an industrial facility and a rehabilitation center for people with disabilities, further amplifying concerns over the targeting of civilian infrastructure.

While ICBMs are typically designed for nuclear warheads and have a range that far exceeds what is necessary to strike within Ukraine, their use in this context is seen as a chilling message of Russia's potential to escalate the conflict. The attack comes just two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a revised nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons.

The updated doctrine permits a nuclear response even to conventional attacks on Russia if they involve nations supported by nuclear powers. This vague but broad formulation is seen as a strategic move by the Kremlin to maintain flexibility in its responses while increasing nuclear rhetoric.

The attack on Dnipro follows Ukraine's recent use of American-supplied long-range missiles and U.K.-made Storm Shadow missiles, with Kyiv targeting Russian positions earlier this week. Russia's Defence Ministry, in its Thursday briefing, claimed to have intercepted two Storm Shadow missiles, six HIMARS rockets, and 67 drones, though it did not specify where or when these incidents occurred.

The war is increasingly drawing in global scenario, with North Korean troops reportedly aiding Russia on the battlefield. U.S. officials said this development influenced President Joe Biden’s decision to approve Ukraine’s use of long-range U.S. missiles to strike Russian territory. The Kremlin, in response, issued renewed threats of escalation, warning that such actions bring NATO and Russia closer to direct conflict.

President Putin reiterated that the use of Western-supplied weapons by Ukraine to strike Russian territory would amount to a declaration of war by NATO. As the war enters a thousand days, the attack on Dnipro highlights the rising stakes in the conflict, with both sides pushing the limits of military escalation.