Russia deploys intercontinental ballistic missile in a historic first use in combat

Russia has reportedly launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Ukrainian territory, marking the first combat deployment of the weapon since its creation nearly 60 years ago.

The attack targeted critical infrastructure in the Dnipro region using the RS-26 Rubezh missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.

This also represents the first confirmed use of MIRV technology in combat.

The missile, carrying a conventional warhead, was launched from Russia's Astrakhan region, over 1,000 kilometers from the impact zone in Ukraine. Social media and Telegram channels have circulated footage of multiple warheads re-entering the atmosphere and striking Ukrainian targets.

While Kyiv has confirmed the missile's use, Moscow has declined to comment on the reports.

This unprecedented strike coincides with President Vladimir Putin's recent changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine. The revised policy states that any attack by a non-nuclear state, if supported by a nuclear power, will be treated as a joint assault on Russia. This development follows the U.S. decision to allow Ukraine to deploy long-range ATACMS missiles against Russian targets.

The RS-26 Rubezh, first tested in 2012, is a solid-fueled ICBM capable of delivering multiple warheads to different targets simultaneously, thanks to its MIRV technology. This system enables a single missile to strike locations hundreds of kilometers apart, making interception more complex. Solid-fueled missiles like the Rubezh are easier to operate and require no fueling before launch.

The missile's trajectory includes three stages - boost, mid-course, and terminal. Its apogee can exceed 4,000 kilometers, and during atmospheric re-entry, the missile reaches speeds over Mach 10, making interception exceedingly difficult. In the Dnipro attack, six warheads reportedly struck the region, overwhelming Ukraine’s anti-ballistic missile defenses.

MIRV technology, initially developed by the United States in the 1970s, allows multiple nuclear or non-nuclear warheads to be deployed from a single missile. The Soviet Union quickly followed suit, and by the late 1970s, both superpowers had advanced MIRV-equipped ICBMs and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

The deployment of ICBMs in Ukraine has raised concerns about escalating tensions in the region and beyond.

Historically, treaties like the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty played a crucial role in de-escalating nuclear arms races during the Cold War. Signed in 1987, the INF Treaty led to the elimination of thousands of missiles by both the U.S. and the Soviet Union. However, the U.S. formally withdrew from the treaty in 2019, leading to its dissolution.