War of words: Questions surround alleged ICBM use in Ukraine
The Ukrainian Air Force has reported that in Thursday's attack on Ukraine, Russia allegedly employed an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). However, there is still no definitive evidence to support this claim. Videos have surfaced online, purportedly showing the moment of the ballistic missile attack, but doubts have been raised regarding their authenticity.
According to Ukrainian sources, an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched on Thursday morning from the Astrakhan region over the Caspian Sea. Theoretically, such a missile is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has a range of up to 6,000 kilometres (approximately 3,700 miles).
The Ukrainian side has not disclosed the type of ballistic missile launched by the Russians, nor whether it reached its intended target. It is only known that the morning's extensive missile strike was aimed at the city of Dnipro in the southeast of the country.
A recording, allegedly showing the moment of impact of the ballistic missile warheads, was shared on the X platform by publicist and military analyst Jarosław Wolski. However, due to its low quality, it cannot be considered reliable evidence.
Doubts after reports from Ukrainians: "Several questions arise"
"Six series of 'something' strikes, where several questions immediately arise: each series shows the fall of many fragments/smaller warheads. So, either the warheads started to disintegrate in the terminal phase of the attack, there were many heavy decoy targets, or... more than one ICBM was used," wrote Wolski.
Doubts are further compounded by the absence of visible explosions in the recording when the missiles hit the ground.
The reports that suggest it was an intercontinental ballistic missile are also refuted by ABC News, which cites information from a Western official.
However, if the claims by the Ukrainian military were confirmed, it would mark the first use of an intercontinental missile in the ongoing war with Russia.
Source: WP Wiadomości/x.com/PAP
