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Russia’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine would mark a “clear escalation” by President Vladimir Putin, the European Union said on Thursday after Kiev accused Moscow of such an attack.

Ukraine said the missile, without a warhead, targeted the central city of Dnipro. The Kremlin did not confirm it had deployed the weapon but said it was doing everything possible to prevent a nuclear conflict.

“While we assess the full facts, it is clear that such an attack would mark another clear escalation on Putin’s part,” EU foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano told reporters.

Kiev said several types of missiles were launched at the industrial city in the latest escalation since Ukraine fired Western-supplied long-range missiles at Russia, attacking critical infrastructure and wounding two people.

If confirmed, the use of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) would represent a “quantitative and qualitative change” in the war, Stano said.

ICBMs can hit targets thousands of miles away and are designed to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.

A Ukrainian air force source confirmed it was the first time such a weapon had been used since Russia invaded in February 2022, adding that it was “clear” the missile did not carry a nuclear payload.

Russia this week updated its nuclear doctrine, allowing it to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states after the United States allowed Kiev to use its ATACMS against military targets in Russia.

“They are playing a nuclear gamble,” the EU’s Stano said of Moscow. “Whether they really mean it is very difficult to predict. We don’t see it in their heads. We just know that this is irresponsible and that this poses a global threat.”

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