INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia fired a global ballistic missile for the very first time during the Ukraine war, military authorities in Kyivsaid early Thursday,
though Western authorities later on mentioned in media reports challenged the claim, stating that overnight attacks on Ukraine had actually
used ballistic missiles only.According to Ukraines General Staff, Russian forces launched an ICBM from the southern Astrakhan region, whose
capital city lies around 650 kilometers (403 miles) east of the border with Ukraine.That alleged launch came amidst an overnight Russian
missile attack on the city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine, with military officials saying air defense systems shot down 6 rockets.City
authorities later stated that a rehabilitation center for the disabled was harmed in the attack.Ukraines military did not say whether its
air defense systems downed the reported ICBM throughout the Dnipro strikes
It did not supply any additional information about that launch.The Moscow Times might not individually verify the claims
There was no instant remark from Russias Defense Ministry about the reported ICBM launch.Kremlin Declines to Comment, West RespondsPresident
Vladimir Putins leading representative, Dmitry Peskov later, on Thursday decreased to discuss Ukraines claim, informing reporters that
concerns about it should be directed to the Russian military.Similarly, in a bizarre episode, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria
Zakharova interrupted a morning instruction with journalists to take a telephone call, during which a mans voice could be heard informing
her tonot comment at all aboutballistic missile strikes.An unnamed Western authorities informed ABC that the over night strikes on Ukraine
did not appear to utilize an ICBM, and instead ballistic missiles were fired in the attacks.While ICBMs are developed to carry nuclear
warheads, they can likewise carry non-nuclear weapons, including standard, chemical and biological
A confidential Ukrainian Air Force source told AFP that the ICBM presumably fired over night Wednesday did not carry a nuclear
warhead.Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of using his country as a weapons-testing ground.All the
characteristics speed, altitude represent an intercontinental ballistic rocket
Specialist examinations are underway
It is apparent that Putin is utilizing Ukraine as a testing room, Zelensky stated, referring to Russia as our insane neighbor.Western
officials, while stopping short of saying for specific whether Russia fired an ICBM over night Wednesday, alerted that utilizing the weapon
for attacks on Ukraine would result in further escalation in the war.While were examining the full truths, its obvious that such [an] attack
would mark yet another clear escalation from the side of Putin, EU foreign affairs representative Peter Stano told reporters.A spokesperson
for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the reports from Ukraine weredeeply worrying and wouldbe another example of base, negligent and
escalatory behavior from Russia if confirmed.Experts Weigh InSome nuclear arms experts have so far expressed skepticism about the alleged
ICBM launch and prompted care when translating unverified claims and reports.I would advise individuals to keep ones cool, not presume
automatically that intercontinental is something naturally and instantly unsafe
However it ought to be taken seriously, Pavel Podvig, director of the Russian Nuclear Forces Project, composed on X.Andrey Baklitskiy, a
senior researcher at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, said that, if confirmed, an ICBM launch by Russia would
betotally extraordinary and the very first actual military use of ICBM
Baklitskiy added, in terms of cost and precision, a Russian attack using the weapon would not make sense
There is a lot we do not know, lets await more truths before hot takes.Russias Astrakhan region, from where the ICBM was declared to have
been fired, is home to the Kaputsin Yar basic training location and a rocket launch complex, which has been used as a test site since the
early days of the Cold War.The reported ICBM launch comes days after Putin lowered Russias limit for utilizing nuclear weapons, a relocation
widely viewed as retaliation for Washington allowing Ukraines military to strike targets inside Russia with long-range weapons it
supplied.AFP contributed reporting.A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are dealing with unmatched obstacles
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