Hungary, Poland On High Alert As Russia ‘Fires Ballistic Missile’ Into Ukraine

The Ukrainian Air Force claimed that the Russian military launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Astrakhan region into Dnipro, during an attack early Thursday morning.

Russia has yet to speak on the alleged attack, which will mark the first time the country would launch an ICBM at Ukraine since the start of the war in February 2022.

Ukraine’s military, however, said it was able to shoot down six Kh-101 cruise missiles during the attack.

The alleged attack came barely days after the U.S lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s use of MGM-140 Army Tactical Misses (ATACMs) against Russia.

Similarly, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed Thursday that its “air defences shot down two Storm Shadow cruise missiles, made by the UK”.

However, the Ministry did not provide information about when or where the missiles were shot down.

Meanwhile, at least 15 people have reportedly been injured following the Russian strike on Kryvyi Rih.

Serhy Lysak, the regional head of Dnipropetrovsk, confirmed in a Telegram message that about 10 residential buildings were damaged, including an administrative building.

According to him, two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, were among those injured, while nine others are being treated in hospital, but their condition is currently unknown.

Russia’s alleged use of ICBM indicates a full-blown escalation of the war as they are capable of travelling thousands of kilometres.

In the wake of the attacks, the Hungarian defence minister announced that the country would install an air defence system near its border with Ukraine, citing a “greater than ever” threat of an escalation in the Ukraine-Russia war.

“We still trust that there will be peace as soon as possible, through diplomacy instead of a military solution,” Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky said in a video posted to Facebook late Wednesday.

“However, to prepare for all possibilities, I ordered the recently purchased air control and air defence systems and the capabilities built on them to be installed in the northeast,” he said.

He made the comments following a meeting of Hungary’s defence council, convened by Prime Minister Viktor Orban to discuss the developments in Ukraine.

Also, Poland has deployed its fighter jets and Nato aircraft to protect its airspace following Russian strikes on Ukraine.

“The on-duty fighter pairs were scrambled, and the ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems reached the highest state of readiness,” the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command wrote on X.