Russia follows the change in nuclear doctrine with the ICBM attack on Ukraine

Russia fired an intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine for the first time since the war began in February 2022.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the Ukrainian city of Dnipro was targeted on the morning of November 21.

Moscow launched the powerful missile from the Astrakhan region.

“Russian forces attacked the city of Dnipro (companies and critical infrastructure) with missiles of various types,” the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement.

ICBM, ‘Kinzhal’ aeroballistic missile, 7 Kh-101 cruise missiles launched

The intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation, a Kh-47M2 “Kinzhal” aeroballistic missile from a MiG-31K fighter jet was launched from the Tambov region, seven Kh-101 cruise missiles were fired from Tu-95MS strategic bombers .

The Ukrainian Air Force claimed that as a result of anti-aircraft battles, six Kh-101 missiles were destroyed by anti-aircraft missile units.

“Information about victims and casualties has not been received so far. Once again we ask citizens not to delay with air warning signals,” the air force said.

The Kremlin has declined to make a statement on the incident.

This is claimed to be the first military use of ICBM, which can carry nuclear warheads, in active war. However, Ukraine did not specify what type of ICBM it was and what kind of warhead it carried.

Russia likely used the RS-26 Rubezh missile

According to a report, the missile in question is expected to be the RS-26 Rubezh.

On November 20, there was widespread media speculation about the possibility of Russia testing the RS-26 Rubezh ballistic missile. Reports suggested it could be either a test launch from the Kapustin Yar range in Astrakhan Oblast or a combat launch, reported Ukrainian Pravda.

The RS-26 “Rubezh” is classified as a medium-range ballistic missile and is designed to carry nuclear warheads.

The missile is believed to be based on two Topol-M stages and is reportedly developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, and its manufacturer is the Votkinsk plant.

RS-26 “Rubezh” could have a range of up to 3,728 miles

Although the exact specifications of the weapon are currently unknown.

But reports suggest it could have a range of up to 6,000 kilometers with a launch weight of 40-50 tons. It can also carry four separate types of warheads, similar to those used in the Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles.

According to reports, the weapon could also be equipped with an Avangard-type hypersonic hover unit.

The attack took place after Putin changed nuclear doctrine

Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin changed the country’s nuclear doctrine.

He has expanded the conditions under which Russia can use nuclear weapons.

According to the changes made, Moscow can now use nuclear weapons in cases where a non-nuclear state, backed by nuclear energy, attacks its territory.

The document states that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to weapons of mass destruction used against Russia or its allies, or in the event of aggression with conventional weapons that threaten the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Russia or Belarus.

The latest attack came after US President Joe Biden last weekend authorized Kiev’s use of American-supplied long-range missiles to strike targets in Russia, finally responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s demands that Western allies lift the restrictions would relax on donated weapons, reported Politics.