Ukraine launches Storm Shadow missiles; will Russia retaliate with ICBMs?

The 1002nd day of hostilities between Ukraine and Russia was marked by heated developments involving long-range missile attacks from both sides.

AFP reported on November 21, citing information from the Russian Ministry of Defense , that Russian air defenses shot down two Storm Shadow missiles from Ukraine, a day after British media reported that Ukraine had launched these missiles for the first time targeting Russia.

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

Point of conflict: Russia responds to ATACMS and Storm Shadow with 'massive' missiles; what will the winter conflict be like?

On the same day, Reuters quoted a statement from the Ukrainian military saying that Russia had fired intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) targeting Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Air Force says that Russian forces launched ICBMs from the Astrakhan province in southern Russia, bordering the Caspian Sea, targeting businesses and critical infrastructure in the city of Dnipro. Astrakhan is located about 700 km from Dnipro.

An area hit by missiles in Dnipro on November 21.

PHOTO: DNIPRO EMERGENCY SERVICES AGENCY

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that all the characteristics, such as speed and altitude, correspond 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 reported that its forces had shot down six Kh-101 cruise missiles launched from Russia. The Kyiv Independent , citing Dnipro officials, reported that the Russian attack damaged an industrial facility and caused two fires in the city, injuring two people.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine immediately commented on the other's reports.

He may be short of Storm Shadow missiles to supply Ukraine.

Russian troops advance further.

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

Accordingly, Russia now controls the village of Dalne, after successively gaining control of other villages in eastern Ukraine.

Earlier on November 20, Russia announced it had taken control of the village of Illinka in eastern Ukraine, on the northern bank of Lake Kurakhove. The day before, Russian forces had claimed control of the frontline village of Novoselydivka, about 7 km north of Kurakhove.

Ukraine has not commented on the developments, but previously stated that Russia was launching intense offensives in several sections of the eastern front, aiming to break through Ukrainian defenses in the 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, within the context of our (nuclear) doctrine, that Russia is taking a responsible position and making every effort to prevent such a conflict from happening," AFP quoted Peskov as saying.

What is Russia's comment on the new NATO missile base in Poland?

Russia argues that a new US ballistic missile defense base in northern Poland would lead to an overall increase in nuclear risk.

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

"This is another clear provocative step in a series of deeply destabilizing actions by the Americans and their allies (in NATO) in the strategic sphere. This leads to the undermining of strategic stability, increased strategic risks, and therefore, an increase in the overall level of nuclear danger," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

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

"This base serves a defensive purpose, not an offensive one. Such threats would certainly be a reason for Poland and NATO to strengthen their air defenses, and the U.S. should also consider it," Reuters quoted 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