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Report: Russia Uses Nuclear-Capable Missile Against Ukraine

State of the Union: The use of an intercontinental ballistic missile appears to be a response to the use of long-range American missiles against targets in Russian territory.
Victory Day Parade In Red Square
(Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)

Ukraine’s air force reported Thursday that Russia used an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a conventional warhead to strike the Ukrainian city of Dnipro earlier in the day.

Russian and Western government organs, including the U.S. European Command, have yet to confirm the report.

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Russia’s use of an ICBM, designed to deliver nuclear payloads, is widely seen as an escalatory response and warning following the Ukrainian use of Western-guided missile systems to strike into Russian core territory. It is the first use of such a weapon in a conflict.

President Joe Biden on Sunday removed restrictions on the Ukrainian use of American-supplied long-range missile systems, which rely on American reconnaissance systems for targeting. Following the use of those missiles Tuesday, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announced a change to Russian nuclear doctrine to countenance strikes against nations actively abetting states with which the Federation is at war.