According to Kiev, Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) over Ukraine this morning.

The Associated Press says this would be the first time an ICBM would be used in this war.

But what are they?

ICBMs are ballistic missiles capable of traveling more than 5,500 km (3,418 miles).

They are primarily designed for the delivery of nuclear weapons.

The missile can carry nuclear warheads as well as conventional warheads, chemical and biological weapons.

The US, UK, Israel, Russia, China, France, India and North Korea are the only countries known to have operational ICBMs.

RS-26 Rubez

Early reports from Ukraine suggest that the weapon used this morning was the RS-26 Rubezh ICBM.

It has not been independently confirmed that this was the weapon used.

Like other ICBMs, it is designed primarily to deliver a nuclear warhead to a target – but there is no suggestion that nuclear weapons were used at Dnipro this morning – and we have yet to confirm that an ICBM was used at all .

The RS-26 Rubezh was successfully tested to a range of 5,800 km (3,604 mi) in 2012, although there are some suggestions that it can run up to 6,000 km (3,728 mi).

It weighs between 40-50 tons and is fired from a ground launcher.