Russia named the missile the Oreshnik, or hazel tree, and said it is impossible to intercept it with air defenses.

This is the first time Russia has used its so-called Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile in combat. The launch also serves as a warning to the West.

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Podvig’s assertion Thursday afternoon, when he announced the weapon that struck Dnipro was an experimental medium-range ballistic missile called “Oreshnik.” MRBMs typically travel no farther than 600 miles.

Russia fired a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday in response to the U.S. and UK's allowing Kyiv to strike Russian territory with advanced Western weapons,

The Ukrainian Air Force claims that Russia launched a conventionally armed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) today at the city of Dnipro, in the center of the country. In either case, the act is unprecedented for the war in Ukraine and it would mark the first use of either one of these types of weapons in combat anywhere.

The war between Russia and Ukraine is intensifying with new attacks and new concerns over the weapons being used by both sides. Vladimir Putin says Russia’s use of a nuclear-capable weapon is a response to Ukraine firing American weapons deeper into Russia for the first time.