Ukraine has accused Russia of firing a ballistic missile at its Dnipropetrovsk region, initially believed to be an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) but later identified as a shorter-range ballistic missile by a Western official. The distinction between an ICBM and other ballistic missiles lies in their range capabilities, with ICBMs capable of traveling thousands of miles across continents, while other ballistic missiles have shorter and intermediate ranges.
However, the focus should not solely be on the missile's range but also on its payload, which refers to the explosive power it carries. Fabian Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow at the Oslo Nuclear Project, emphasized the importance of the missile's payload over its range.
