Russia attacked Ukrainian city Dnipro with an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Thursday, one day after Ukrainian forces launched British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles at targets inside Russia.
The Times of London quoted a British official confirming Ukraine had fired the British missile at Russia’s Kursk region on Wednesday, a day after Pentagon and Ukrainian officials confirmed to the New York Times that Ukraine had also fired U.S. long range missiles at targets inside Russia.
The Storm Shadow missile, produced by the European multinational missile systems company MBDA, has a range of 250 km. In May 2023, the UK became the first country to supply Ukraine with Storm Shadow cruise missiles, initially limiting their use to targeting Russian military positions within Ukrainian territory.
The Times report cited a British government source saying that this recent use of the missiles in Russian territory might indicate restrictions on firing British-made Storm Shadow missiles into Russia had been lifted.
Separately, the U.S. government has also allowed Ukraine to use US-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles for cross-border attacks at targets in Russia.
On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that Ukraine had fired US ATACMS missiles into the Bryansk region of Russia.
Wei Dongxu, a news commentator with China Media Group (CMG), said that the Ukrainian use of US-made and British-made missiles could incur more intense retaliation from Russia, putting its own key infrastructure and populated cities at risk.
"Now the Ukrainian force can actually carry out such attacks against high-value targets deep in Russia using Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles and ATACMS from High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). And the use of such long-range fire is basically unrestricted. When Ukraine can use the missile systems provided by the U.S. and the UK at will against high-value targets -- even including large cities -- in Russian territory, first, Ukraine will see retaliation by more intense long-range Russian fire. Targeting Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, including some important infrastructure, Russia's long-range firepower and attack capability is very strong. So when the Ukrainian military launches its strikes against the Russian mainland, the retaliation it faces will become more intense," he said.
"So as we have seen, the NATO member states still use Ukraine as a war puppet. They want to use the Ukrainian army and these missile systems that they have provided to inflict maximum damage on Russia's national strength and military strength. But it is Ukraine the country itself and its people who bear the consequences," Wei said.
Russia’s attack on Dnipro in central Ukraine on Thursday morning was the first time it had launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Ukraine, the Ukrainian Air Force said.
The ICBM was fired from Russia's southern Astrakhan region, the Air Force said on Telegram, without specifying the missile type.
The attack included eight other missiles. Ukrainian air defenses shot down six cruise missiles, while the remaining missiles caused no "significant consequences," the Air Force added.
Head of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration Sergii Lysak said the massive attack on Dnipro damaged an industrial enterprise and caused two fires in the city.
Two people were hurt in the assault, according to the military administration.
"The security situation in Ukraine remains severe at present. The Ukrainian Air Force issued a notice on Nov 21 saying that between 5:00 and 7:00 that morning, the Russian forces launched an ICBM from the Astrakhan region of Russia, in addition to a Kinzhal missile and seven cruise missiles. According to the release, the Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed six cruise missiles. The attack did not cause serious consequences, the notice said, while warning the public not to ignore air raid sirens," said Wang Jinyan, a CMG reporter.
Ukraine risks Russian retaliation after firing Western missiles at targets inside Russia: commentator
