Ukraine says Russia launched ICBM in latest attack
· RTE.ieRussia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile from its southern Astrakhan region during a morning attack on Ukraine, Kyiv's air force said, the first time Russia has used such a powerful, long-range missile during the war.
The strike comes after Ukraine used US and British missiles to strike targets inside Russia this week, something Moscow had warned for months would be seen as a major escalation.
The Russian attack targeted enterprises and critical infrastructure in the central-eastern city of Dnipro, the air force said, at a time of escalating moves in the 33-month-old war launched by Russia in Ukraine.
It was unclear from the statement what the intercontinental ballistic missile targeted and whether it caused any damage.
The missiles have a range of thousands of kilometres and can be used for delivering nuclear warheads, though they can also have conventional warheads.
Ukrainian air defences shot down six Kh-101 cruise missiles during the attack.
"In particular, an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation," the air force said, detailing types of weapon used in the attack.
It did not say what kind of intercontinental ballistic missile was fired.
Meanwhile, Russia;s foreign ministry said Moscow is ready to consider any "realistic" peace initiative on the conflict in Ukraine which takes into account Russia's own interests and the situation on the ground.
"We are open to negotiations, we are ready to consider any realistic, non-politicised initiative - of course," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, adding that Russia would only consider a settlement "which was based on taking into account our interests".
"I would like to emphasize once again: the key word is taking into account the interests of our country, the current situation on ground and guarantees of compliance with relevant agreements."
Reuters has reported that Russia is open to discussing a Ukraine ceasefire deal with US president-elect Donald Trump but rules out making any major territorial concessions and insists Ukraine abandon ambitions to join NATO.