What is known about Russia's intercontinental ballistic missile
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On Thursday, November 21, the Russian occupiers used an intercontinental ballistic missile against Ukraine for the first time. They fired the new weapon at Dnipro, causing destruction in the city.
Novyny.LIVE to tell what is known about the intercontinental ballistic missile that the occupiers have begun to use against Ukraine.
Intercontinental ballistic missile
Russia often uses short and medium-range ballistic missiles in its attacks on Ukraine. However, intercontinental ballistic missiles are much more powerful. They can carry nuclear warheads and are capable of hitting targets at much greater distances.
Ballistic missiles operate on the principle of being launched into the atmosphere using a rocket engine, after which they move to the target along a ballistic trajectory.
They are less accurate than cruise missiles because their control is limited only to the early stages of flight. However, their main advantage is their extremely high speed, which can reach over 3200 km/h.
Intercepting ballistic missiles is only possible using modern air defenses.
Another important characteristic of such missiles is their range — from about 1000 km for short- and medium-range missiles to more than 6000 km in the case of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Russia usually uses medium and short-range ballistic missiles for its attacks, in particular:
- Iskander;
- Sarmat;
- Luna-M;
- Tochka-U;
- Bulava 30.
However, on November 21, the enemy used an intercontinental ballistic missile.
The Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces did not specify what kind of missile the occupiers used. However, according to the Defense Express, it was a Rubezh.
What is dangerous about Rubezh
The S-26 Rubezh missile is an intercontinental medium-range ballistic missile designed to deliver nuclear warheads. Its development was made top secret because it violated the terms of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
The process of creating the missile began in 2006, but, according to 2018, it was excluded from the weapons program until 2027.
However, in July this year, the Kremlin announced the possibility of resuming missile production.
The missile is believed to be based on the design of the Topol-M two-stage missile. The development was carried out by the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering, and production belongs to the Votkinsk plant, which is also responsible for the production of Iskander ballistic missiles.
Probable characteristics of the weapon:
- the missile has an approximate range of 3,000-5,000 km, enabling it to strike targets at significant distances;
- it is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, making it a strategic weapon for nuclear deterrence;
- the missile features a two-stage design based on components of the Topol-M missile;
- it possesses substantial potential for further improvements and adaptation to new combat conditions.
Ukraine's reaction
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that today the invaders used a new missile. According to him, all the characteristics are of an intercontinental ballistic missile.
"The examinations are ongoing. It is obvious that Putin is using Ukraine as a testing ground," he emphasized.
The consequences of the strike
As a reminder, the Ukrainian Air Force said that the enemy had launched an intercontinental ballistic missile down the Dnipro for the first time.
Later, the head of the Dnipropetrovs'k Regional Military Administration, Serhii Lysak, and the press service of the State Emergency Service published photos of the aftermath of the strike. Two people were injured in the hostile shelling: a 57-year-old man who was treated at the site, and a 42-year-old woman who was hospitalized.
