Putin's Stern Message To West: In A First, Russia Fires Intercontinental Ballistic Missile At Ukraine

Russia has launched an intercontinental ballistic missile from its southern Astrakhan region in a morning attack on Ukraine, Kyiv’s air force said.

This is the first time since the war broke out that Russia has used such a long-range, powerful missile.

The firing of the ICBM with a conventional (non-nuclear) warhead is being seen as a stern warning to Ukraine and its Western allies that Moscow's red lines must be respected.

Moscow's strong response comes days after US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed Ukraine to use western long-range cruise and ballistic missiles to target deep within Russian territory.

Within hours of those approvals from Washington and London, Kyiv fired a US-made ATACMS missile and a UK-made 'Storm Shadow' missile targeting Russian territories.

US weapons were employed in an attack on a Russian arsenal in Bryansk.

Meanwhile, the British-made missile strikes reportedly hit military facilities in Russia's Kursk region and intercepted others over the Black Sea port city of Yeysk, according to reports from Russian channels linked to the military.

This comes as Russia has updated its nuclear doctrine in response to the Western nations allowing use of its missiles to attack Russian territory.

The revised doctrine, which allows for a nuclear response to any massive aerial assault or attacks threatening Russia's sovereignty, aligns with Putin's efforts to leverage his country's nuclear capabilities.

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