Russia fires nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine for first time: What is an ICBM?
Serving as a reminder of Russia’s nuclear capability and sending a powerful message to the US and other NATO allies, Moscow launched an intercontinental ballistic missile on Ukraine from its southern Astrakhan region.
In yet another sign of the escalating war between the two countries, which has been going on for over 1,000 days, Russia on Thursday fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Ukraine for the first time.
This is the first time Moscow has used such a missile in the war. The missile was launched at Ukraine's Dnipro city in the central-east.
The development comes just two days after Vladimir Putin signed a revised nuclear doctrine that formally lowers the threshold for Moscow's use of nuclear weapons and warned the US and other NATO allies against allowing Ukraine to use longer-range weapons to hit Russian territory, which has been supplied by the Western countries.
‘Kremlin refuses to comment’
Refusing to comment on the launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine for the first time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had “nothing to say” on this topic, reported AFP.
From where was missile launched?
The intercontinental ballistic missile, along with eight other missiles, was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region, which borders the Caspian Sea, said Ukraine's air force.
However, AP reported that the Ukrainian Air Force did not specify the exact type of missile but confirmed shooting down six.
Damages
Reports said that two people were wounded, and an industrial facility and a rehabilitation centre for people with disabilities were damaged.
“Two people were wounded—a 57-year-old man was treated on the scene, and a 42-year-old woman was hospitalised,” AFP quoted an official as saying.
However, it was not clear if the inter-continental ballistic missile caused any other damage.
What is ICBM?
— Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) are strategic weapons designed to deliver nuclear warheads.
— They can also have conventional warheads.
— They are an important part of Russia's nuclear deterrent.
— The missiles have a range of thousands of kilometres.
— ICBMs reportedly have a range between 6,000 to 9,300 miles, making a target vulnerable.
— The use would serve as a reminder of Russia’s nuclear capability and send a powerful message to the US and other NATO allies.
How does ICBM work?
According to a fact sheet of the Centre for Arms Control, there are three states: the boost phase, the midcourse phase, and the terminal phase.
— The boost phase begins at launch, midcourse phase begins after the rocket(s) stops firing.
—In the mid-course phase, the missile continues to ascend toward the highest point in its trajectory and then begins to descend toward Earth.
—During the midcourse phase, ICBMs can travel around 24,000 kilometres per hour (15,000 miles per hour).
—The terminal phase is when the detached warhead(s) reenter the Earth’s atmosphere and ends upon impact or detonation.
—During this phase, which can last for less than a minute, strategic warheads can travel at speeds greater than 3,200 kilometres per hour (1,988 miles per hour), states the fact sheet.
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Business NewsNewsWorldRussia fires nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine for first time: What is an ICBM?
First Published:21 Nov 2024, 04:21 PM IST
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