Russia launches intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine for the first time

Russia fired an intercontinental ballistic missile at the southeastern city of Dnipro in what is believed to be the first such use of the projectile in war. 

Known as the Rubezh, it struck the city on Nov. 21 while an aeroballistic and seven cruise missiles targeted Dnipro as well, Ukraine’s Air Force reported. 

“As a result of an air battle, Air Force anti-aircraft missile units destroyed six Kh-101 missiles. The other missiles had no significant impact,” the report stated.

The Rubezh was launched from the Astrakhan region in southwestern Russia. In Dnipro, the attack caused damage to an industrial facility, a rehabilitation center, residential buildings, and garages, leaving two civilians injured.

В розпорядження УП потрапило відео першого російського удару по Україні міжконтинентальною балістичною ракетою “Рубеж” pic.twitter.com/Cfx4ZlXhvA

— Українська правда ✌️ (@ukrpravda_news) November 21, 2024

The use of this new missile signals that Russia is treating Ukraine as a testing ground, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

“Obviously, Putin is terrified when normal life simply exists next to him. When people simply have dignity. When a country simply wants to be and has the right to be independent. Putin is doing whatever it takes to prevent his neighbor from breaking free of his grasp,” Zelenskyy said.

The missile is primarily designed to carry nuclear warheads but can also be equipped with a conventional high-explosive warhead, according to Ukrainska Pravda.

“The missile’s unique feature is that it is made up of four controllable fighting units that can be separated. During descent, the missile maneuvers, making it more difficult for modern missile defense systems to intercept,” the report said.

Russia began developing the RS-26 Rubezh missile system nearly 18 years ago, violating the 1987 treaty between the USSR and the U.S. on the elimination of intermediate and short-range missiles. The first launch took place in 2011. However, in 2018, Russian media reported that the missile was removed from the program until 2027.

“Russia is expected to have ample chances to rapidly deploy the production of RS-26 Rubezh missiles using current technology, supply chains, and manufacturing processes,” Ukrainian Pravda writes.

The missile’s warhead weighs 1.2 tons (compared to the 480 kg warhead of the Iskander-M). The Rubezh can target objects up to 6,000 km away. As a mobile system, depending on the launch site, the missile can reach Kyiv in 8–10 minutes.

“The great majority of Russian long-range missiles can carry nuclear weapons. Iskander, Kindzhal, cruise missiles like the Kh-55 and Kh-102, and many more,” the journalists said.