Russia launched a new non-nuclear ballistic missile with medium range on Ukraine’s Dnipro region on Thursday, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said in a televised statement, marking another significant escalation in the 1,000-day-old war, writes CNN.

According to US and Western officials, the ballistic missile carried multiple warheads, which may be the first time such a weapon has been used in war. At least three people were injured in the attack, the head of the Dnipro’s military administration had said earlier. A number of buildings were also damaged.

Vladimir Putin said a Russian strike in Ukraine was carried out by a new non-nuclear ballistic missile, which has a medium range: “In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons, on November 21 of this year the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the facilities of the Ukrainian defense industry. In combat conditions, one of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems was also tested”, - Putin said, apparently referring to the strike on Dnipro. “In this case, with a ballistic missile in non-nuclear hypersonic equipment. Our missilemen called it ‘Oreshnik’. The tests were successful. The launch goal was achieved”.

This comes after a US official told CNN earlier on Thursday that Russia used an “experimental medium-range” ballistic missile in an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. A medium-range missile can travel between 1,000 kilometers and 3,000 km, according to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.