Latest war in Ukraine: Zelensky says Russia has used ‘new type’ of missile with ‘features’ of ICBM | World news

According to Kiev, Russia fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Ukraine this morning.

The Associated Press says this would be the first time an ICBM has been used in this war.

But what are they?

ICBMs are ballistic missiles that can travel more than 5,500 km (3,418 miles).

They are primarily designed for the delivery of nuclear weapons.

The missile can mount nuclear warheads, as well as conventional warheads, chemical and biological weapons.

The US, Britain, Israel, Russia, China, France, India and North Korea are the only countries known to have operational ICBMs.

They differ from cruise missiles because they are initially powered by rockets, while cruise missiles use jet engines.

RS-26 Rubezh

Early reports from Ukraine suggest that the weapon used this morning was the RS-26 Rubezh ICBM.

It has not been independently confirmed that this was the weapon used.

Like other ICBMs, it is primarily designed to carry a nuclear warhead to a target – but there is no evidence that any nuclear weapons were used by Dnipro this morning – and we have yet to confirm that an ICBM was used at all.

The RS-26 Rubezh was successfully tested in 2012 at a range of 5,800 km (3,604 mi), although there are some suggestions that it can travel up to 6,000 km (3,728 mi).

It weighs between 40 and 50 tons and is fired from a ground-based launcher.