Russian President Vladimir Putin says the missile fired at Ukraine on Thursday was not an intercontinental ballistic missile, as initially claimed by Ukrainian officials, but a new type of “intermediate” range weapon which could be turned against Ukraine’s allies in the future.

According to the Russian president, the missile strike came in response to the use of U.S.- and British-made arms by the Ukrainian military against targets in Russia earlier this week. Russia has claimed it shot down those missiles.

“In combat conditions, one of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems was tested, among other things. In this case, with a ballistic missile in a nuclear-free hypersonic equipment,” Putin said during a national television address.

Putin said that in the future his use of such missiles would be announced in advance so that civilians can evacuate the target area and proclaimed that U.S. air defense systems are incapable of stopping the weapons. He was explicit in saying nation’s supporting Ukraine’s defense are viable targets.

U.S. officials also pushed back on claims from Kyiv that Russia fired an ICBM at Ukraine, according to reporting.

According to initial reports from Ukrainian officials, the world entered a new era of warfare after the Russian military apparently used an intercontinental ballistic missile, which would represent the first time such a weapon was used as an act of war in human history.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that his “insane neighbor” is once again showing the world its true nature, “its disdain for dignity, freedom, and human life itself. And, most of all, its fear.”

“Fear so overwhelming that it unleashes missile after missile, scouring the globe for more weapons — whether from Iran or North Korea. Today, it was a new Russian missile. Its speed and altitude suggest intercontinental ballistic capabilities. Investigations are ongoing,” he Thursday morning.

In a statement offered in the afternoon, Zelenskyy seemed to concur with the assessment of international observers that the weapons used was not an ICBM, but a shorter range ballistic device.

“Today, Putin admitted to taking a second step this year toward escalating and expanding this war. A new ballistic missile was used. Putin struck our city of Dnipro, one of Ukraine’s largest cities. This is a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war—a cynical violation of the UN Charter by Russia,” he said.

The White House responded to the attack by announcing a new round of sanctions against dozens of Russian financial institutions and “50 other persons and entities operating in the Russian financial sector.”

In a statement shared by the Biden Administration, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the sanctions aim to “further degrade Russia’s ability to use the international financial system to fund and prosecute its brutal war against the people of Ukraine.”

“These targets include Gazprombank, Russia’s largest remaining bank not sanctioned by the United States,” Sullivan said.

U.S. officials explained after the attack that the missile launched at Dnipro was technically not an intercontinental ballistic missile — which generally have an effective range of more than 3,400 miles — but a new type of shorter range ballistic missile of which Russia has a short supply.

The launch comes not long after President Joe Biden’s outgoing administration loosened the rules around the use of foreign military coalition provided long-range precision arms against targets on Russia’s side of the border.

Ukraine was quick to take action under the new ground rules, and began using coalition provided weaponry against targets in Russia just days later. Russian President Vladimir Putin responded by lowering the threshold under which the Russian military might be ordered to use nuclear weapons.

On Wednesday, the U.S. announced a 70th, $275 million military aid package would be sent to Ukraine, including a large supply of land mines.

Regardless of the technical definition surrounding the Russian fired rocket, its use demonstrates that Russia is more than capable of firing on other European nations, according to Zelenskyy.

“Putin must feel the cost of his deranged ambitions. Response is needed. Pressure is needed. Russia must be forced into real peace, which can only be achieved through strength. Otherwise, there will be endless Russian strikes, threats, and destabilization—not just against Ukraine,” he said Thursday.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, told the Herald that Putin’s latest provocation is a “notable development, but not a cause for alarm.”

“He is trying to scare the West,” Moulton said, while adding that Russia’s tactics are counterproductive.

“Putin should not play games with nuclear bluster. Using a potentially nuclear-armed weapon to sow confusion about whether or not Russia intends to take this conflict nuclear is irresponsible and reckless,” Moulton said.

Herald wire services contributed.