Russia Launches Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Over Ukraine
On the morning of November 21, Russia escalated its ongoing attack on Ukraine by launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), causing significant damage and triggering power outages. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the attack, which also involved various other types of missiles targeting critical infrastructure.
Details of the Attack
Between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m., Russian troops attacked the city of Dnipro, striking businesses and vital infrastructure. The attack involved an ICBM launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region, an H-47M2 Kinjal aeroballistic missile fired from a MiG-31K airplane in the Tambov region, and seven H-101 cruise missiles launched from Tu-95MS bombers near the Volgograd region.
Following the attack, nationwide air alerts were triggered at 5:05 a.m. Explosions were reported in Dnipro around 7:15 a.m., where local authorities reported severe damage to an industrial plant and critical infrastructure, resulting in area-wide fires.
Emergency Measures
To stabilize the power grid amid the attacks, emergency blackouts were implemented in several regions, including Kiev, Dnipro, Odessa, Sumy, Zhitomir, and Donetsk. The missiles, launched by Tu-95MS bombers, entered Ukrainian airspace from the north, crossed Cernihiv, and proceeded towards central and southeastern Ukraine. Explosions and air alerts were also reported in Poltava, Kremenchuk, and Zaporozhe.
US Embassy Warning
In light of the escalated tensions, the US embassy in Kiev warned US citizens in Ukraine of a potential missile strike on November 20. The embassy urged American citizens to be prepared to seek immediate shelter during air alerts.
The warning followed Ukraine’s use of US-supplied ATACMS long-range missiles against a munitions depot in Russia’s Bryansk region. This attack was in response to escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and the arrival of North Korean troops in Russia.
