The Ukrainian air force said Russian forces fired several types of missiles at the central city of Dnipro this morning, targeting critical infrastructure.
"In particular, an intercontinental ballistic missile was fired from the Astrakhan region of Russian Federation," they said.
A Ukrainian air force source confirmed that it was the first time since the Kremlin launched its invasion that its forces had deployed the weapon.
The source added that it was "obvious" that the missile, which is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads, did not carry a nuclear charge.
Asked whether Moscow had fired the missile, which can strike targets thousands of kilometres away, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said he had "nothing to say on this topic".
Air defence units shot down six missiles, the air force said, without specifying whether an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was shot down.
The head of the wider region in which the city of Dnipro is located said the Russian aerial bombardment damaged a rehabilitation centre and several houses, as well as an industrial plant.
"Two people were injured - a 57-year-old man was treated at the scene and a 42-year-old woman was admitted to hospital," said officer Serhiy Lisak.
In recent days, Russia and Ukraine have escalated their use of the deadly long-range missiles after the United States gave permission to use its ATASMs against military targets on Russian territory - a long-standing Ukrainian demand.
Meanwhile, British media reported that Kiev had fired UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles at targets in Russia after receiving the green light from London.
The defence ministry in Moscow said its air defence systems had shot down two Storm Shadows missiles, without specifying whether they were shot down on Russian territory or in occupied Ukraine. | BGNES
.jpg)