Russian ICBM attack on Ukraine would mark escalation - EU

Russia launching an intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine would mark a "clear escalation" by President Vladimir Putin, the European Union said after Ukraine accused Russia of such an attack.

Ukraine said the missile, without a nuclear warhead, targeted the central city of Dnipro.

The speed and altitude of the missile suggest it was an intercontinental ballistic missile, President Volodymyr Zelensiy said.

He said experts were currently conducting an investigation to identify the type of missile.

"All the characteristics - speed, altitude - corresponds to an intercontinental ballistic missile. Expert examinations are under way. It is obvious that Putin is using Ukraine as a testing ground," Mr Zelensky said, referring to Russia as "our crazy neighbour."

The Kremlin did not confirm it had deployed the weapon but said it was doing everything possible to avoid a nuclear conflict.

"While we're assessing the full facts, it's obvious that such (an) attack would mark yet another clear escalation from the side of Putin," EU foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano told reporters.

Ukraine said several types of missiles were launched at the industrial city in the latest escalation since Ukraine fired Western-supplied long-range missiles on Russia, targeting critical infrastructure and leaving two people wounded.

Read More: What is the ICBM Ukraine says Russia fired?

If confirmed, the use of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), would represent a "quantitative and qualitative change" in the war, said Mr Stano.

ICBMs can hit targets thousands of kilometres away and are designed to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.

A source in the Ukrainian air force confirmed it was the first time such a weapon had been used since Russia invaded in February 2022, adding it was "obvious" that the missile did not carry a nuclear charge.

Security experts said if the reports are confirmed, this would be the first ever military use of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Russia updated its nuclear doctrine this week, allowing it to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states after the United States gave Kyiv permission to use its ATACMS against military targets inside Russia.

"They are playing a nuclear gamble," Mr Stano said of Moscow.

"Whether they really mean it, it's very hard to foresee. We don't see in their heads. We only know that this is irresponsible and this constitutes a global threat".

UK says Russia eyeing use of ballistic missile 'for months' without confirming strike

Russia has been looking to hit Ukraine with a ballistic missile "for months", UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.

"There are unconfirmed but media reports today of Russia firing a new ballistic missile into Ukraine, which we know they have been preparing for months," he told a parliament's cross-party defence committee.

British media reports yesterday said that Ukraine had fired UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for the first time, after being given the green light from London.

That has prompted concerns about an escalation in the conflict, and warnings of heavy reprisals from the Kremlin.

Mr Healey told MPs that he would not be drawn into operational details of the conflict, but he called the current situation in Ukraine "serious".

"The front line is now less stable than at any time since the early days of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022," he added.