For the first time in the world: Russia strikes Ukraine with an intercontinental ballistic missile – Stratcom

The morning of November 21 began in Ukraine with an air raid alert. This is no longer news for Ukraine in the state of war unleashed by Russia. But what was new this time was the type of missile used in the attack. According to the Ukrainian Defense Forces, an intercontinental ballistic missile was used for the attack.

Ukrainian Air Force after the missile attack reportedThe enemy launched an intercontinental ballistic missile from the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation. In addition to the already familiar X-47M2 «Kinzhal» air-launched ballistic missile and X-101 cruise missiles.

Strathcombe later added that this was the first time in the world that an enemy had struck with an intercontinental ballistic missile. Although it is capable of covering a distance of thousands of kilometers, this time it was about 800 kilometers from the launch point to the target.

Yesterday, rumors were spreading online about Russia’s intentions to strike Ukraine with an RS-26 «Rubizh» intercontinental ballistic missile with a separate warhead containing individually guided warheads. It is not yet known what kind of missile struck the Dnipro today. However, the launch took place from the Kapustin Yar «range in Astrakhan region, where RS-26 «Rubizh», which is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM, ballistic missiles with a range of 1000-5500 km), was previously seen deployed.

Taking into account the available videos «of arrivals» from Dnipro, the publication Defense Express suggestsIt could have been an RS-26 missile «Rubizh» or «Yars». Technically, these are very similar missiles. The launch took place at about 5 a.m. Kyiv time from a mobile ground complex. The launch process is as follows. First, a special knockout charge shoots the rocket out of the launch container, then the solid rocket engine of the first stage is launched.

Missiles of this class usually have three stages. The main task of the first stage is to lift the rocket to a significant altitude into a thin atmosphere. Once it has fulfilled its function, it separates, and the second and third stages continue their work in sequence. Because the flight follows a ballistic trajectory, such rockets enter outer space.

At this stage, the launch vehicle is completed: the main warheads are separated. For this purpose, a special unit known as the «bus» is used. Its task is to place individual warheads and decoys with high accuracy, which then fall along specific trajectories under the influence of gravity.

Video footage taken in the Dnipro at 5:17 a.m. recorded the fall of six such individually guided units, as well as presumably decoys. Most likely, they were only simulators and did not have a combat charge. However, it should be noted that these objects had significant kinetic energy due to their fall from near-Earth space.

To intercept medium-range missiles, a special THAAD missile defense system is used. In addition, such missiles can be shot down by SM-6 anti-aircraft systems. SM-3 missiles, which are capable of intercepting ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere, also play an important role in defense.

Defence Express believes that today’s strike on the Dnipro was a demonstration and rehearsal of a possible nuclear strike using simulated warheads with individual guidance.