Ukraine launches Storm Shadow missile, Russia responds with ICBM?

The 1002nd day of the war between Ukraine and Russia was marked by hot developments related to long-range missile attacks from both sides.

AFP news agency on November 21 quoted information from the Russian Defense Ministry saying that the country's air defense force shot down two Storm Shadow missiles from Ukraine, one day after British media reported that Ukraine had launched this missile for the first time at Russia.

"Air defense forces shot down two British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles," the Russian Defense Ministry said, referring to the missile jointly developed by Britain and France (the French call it SCALP).

Clash Point: Russia Responds to ATACMS, Storm Shadow with 'Monstrous' Missiles; How is Winter War?

On the same day, Reuters quoted a statement from the Ukrainian military saying that Russia had launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Air Force said the Russian military launched an ICBM from Astrakhan province, south of Russia and bordering the Caspian Sea, targeting businesses and critical infrastructure in the city of Dnipro. Astrakhan is about 700 kilometers from Dnipro.

An area hit by a missile in Dnipro on November 21.

PHOTO: DNIPRO EMERGENCY SERVICES

The Ukrainska Pravda website, citing anonymous sources, said the Russian ICBM launched at Dnipro was the RS-26 Rubezh. According to the Arms Control Association (USA), this missile has a range of up to 5,800 km. A Ukrainian source said the missile did not carry a nuclear warhead.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that all the characteristics, including speed and altitude, corresponded to an ICBM. "Expert tests are underway. It is clear that Putin is using Ukraine as a testing ground," the leader said in a video posted on social media.

AFP quoted European Union foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano as saying that Russia's launch of an ICBM into Ukraine would be a "clear escalation".

However, ABC News quoted a Western official as saying that the missile was actually a ballistic missile, not an ICBM.

On the same day, Ukraine said its forces shot down six Kh-101 cruise missiles launched from Russia. The Kyiv Independent quoted Dnipro officials as saying that the Russian attack damaged an industrial facility and set off two fires in the city, injuring two people.

Russia and Ukraine have not immediately commented on each other's information.

UK may lack Storm Shadow missiles to replenish Ukraine

Russian troops advance further

The Russian Defense Ministry said on November 21 that its forces had just taken control of another village in eastern Ukraine near the town of Kurakhove (Donetsk region).

Accordingly, Russia controls the village of Dalne, after continuously gaining control of more villages in eastern Ukraine.

Earlier on November 20, Russia announced control of the village of Ilinka in eastern Ukraine, on the northern shore of Lake Kurakhove. A day earlier, Russian forces announced control of the frontline village of Novoselydivka, about 7 km north of Kurakhove.

Ukraine has not commented on the developments, but previously said Russia was launching fierce attacks on several sections of the eastern front, with the aim of breaking through Ukraine's defenses in Donetsk province towards the towns of Kurakhove and Pokrovsk.

"Avoid nuclear conflict"

Regarding the nuclear issue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on November 21 that Moscow is "making maximum efforts" to avoid nuclear conflict.

"We have stressed in the context of our (nuclear) doctrine that Russia is taking a responsible position to make maximum efforts not to allow such a conflict to happen," AFP quoted Mr. Peskov as saying.

What does Russia say about the new NATO missile base in Poland?

Russia believes that a new US ballistic missile defense base in northern Poland will lead to an increase in the overall level of nuclear danger.

The air defence base, located in the town of Redzikowo near the Baltic coast and part of a wider NATO missile shield, opened on 13 November.

“This is another clearly provocative step in a series of deeply destabilizing actions by the Americans and their allies (in NATO) in the strategic sphere. This leads to a weakening of strategic stability, an increase in strategic risks and, as a result, an increase in the overall level of nuclear danger,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski said there were no nuclear missiles at the base and that it was for defensive purposes only.

"This is a base for defensive purposes, not for attack. Such threats would certainly be a reason for Poland and NATO to strengthen their air defenses, and the US should also consider it," Reuters quoted Mr. Wronski as saying.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chien-su-ukraine-ngay-1002-ukraine-phong-ten-lua-storm-shadow-nga-dap-tra-bang-icbm-185241121210851761.htm