KYIV (Reuters) -Russia fired an intercontinental ballistic missile during an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday, Kyiv's air force said, in what would be the first use in war of a weapon designed to deliver long-distance nuclear strikes. The launch, if confirmed, highlights rapidly rising tensions in the 33-month-old war after Ukraine fired U.S. and British missiles at targets inside Russia this week despite warnings by Moscow that it would see such action as a major escalation. Security experts said it would be the first military use of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

The Kremlin fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday in response to Kyiv's use this week of American and British missiles capable of striking deeper into Russia, President Vladimir Putin said.

A video allegedly showing a Russian RS-26 ballistic missile strike on Ukraine’s Dnipro has raised global concerns. The missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, was reportedly launched from Astrakhan. The Kremlin denies involvement as fears of escalation grow.

It is the first known use in the war of such a powerful weapon, with a range of thousands of kilometres.

Ukraine claims it was struck by ICBM, which can carry nuclear payloads.

Vladimir Putin has said that Russia used a new "intermediate-range" ballistic missile against Ukraine in response to long-range missiles being fired on its territory.

Russia's president says the attack on Dnipro is a response to Ukraine's use of long-range US and UK weaponry.

General Alfons Mais, the German army chief, has called for considerably higher defence spending to allow Western countries to protect themselves.

The new ballistic missile fired by Russia struck a military-industrial facility in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, but its real mission was delivering a deadly new message to NATO. Hours after Thursday's strike touched off a debate over whether the Ukrainian plant was hit by an intercontinental ballistic missile, President Vladimir Putin made a rare and surprise appearance on Russian television to clear up the mystery. “Modern air defense systems that exist in the world and anti-missile defenses created by the Americans in Europe can’t intercept such missiles,” Putin declared in an icy and menacing tone.

Ukraine President condemns Russian ballistic missile attack, calls for global condemnation and strong response to escalation.

Kremlin fires new missile at Ukraine in response to U.S. and British missile use, escalating tensions.

Russia today fired a new intermediate range missile known as the Oreshnik but its arsenal is feared to also boast as many as 5,500 nuclear warheads - many of which are ready to go

Russia launched a new hypersonic missile at Ukraine, said Putin, escalating the conflict.

More could follow, Putin warns after Russia fires a new kind of hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile at Ukraine.

Putin is 'testing' the West after using a new ballistic missile against Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned.

The weapon is a new intermediate-range missile based on Russia’s existing RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile

BBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg assesses the Russian leader's next move.

A new Oreshnik hypersonic missile which was launched by Russia on Dnipro in Ukraine yesterday has the capability of reaching the UK in just 20 minutes, it is claimed