RUSSIA: Kremlin-Russia Takes Responsible Position In Preventing Nuclear Conflict

Following a possible ICBM strike on Ukraine, Kremlin spox Dmitry Peskov claims that "Russia takes a responsible position in terms of making maximum efforts to prevent [nuclear] conflict. We expect that other countries will also take the same responsible position and not engage in provocative actions." Peskov said that the information about the use of Anglo-French Storm Shadow missiles on targets in Russia was 'a new escalation'.

• As noted earlier (see 'UKRAINE: Air Force Confirms Missile Attack, Could Be 1st-Ever Use Of ICBM In War', 0854GMT) the use of long-range missiles has elicited a reaction from Russia, albeit one that initially may appear a significant escalation but in the event is more likely to prove an isolated incident.
• The possible use of ICBMs to launch conventional warheads is unlikely to prove a sustained tactic in the war. While the nature of the missile fired at Dnipro is not yet known (although there is a flurry of speculation about its type), in any case, the cost is likely to run into tens of millions of US dollars. This would make the firing of multiple ICBMs into Ukraine an extremely costly measure. The launch also provides NATO (which will have been well aware of the ICBM launch via NORAD) with valuable data on the functioning of Russian missiles.
• It should be noted that the use of an ICBM has not been confirmed. Indeed Patrick Reevell at ABC News posts on X: "A Western official has told ABC News that Russia did NOT use an ICBM against Ukraine last night, contradicting Ukraine’s Air Force. The official said it was a ballistic missile but declined to characterize it further saying the impact was still being assessed."