At approximately 11:30 AM local time, a loud explosion shook the suburbs of Dnipro, a major city in central Ukraine.

The blast, caused by Ukrainian air defense operations, was reportedly the result of intercepting a new Russian long-range bomb-missile — a development that could signal Moscow’s expanding ability to strike targets deep inside Ukraine.

Serhiy Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Administration, confirmed the incident and praised the air defense forces:

“Thanks to our sky defenders for shooting down the newest Grom-1 bomb-missile,” Lysak wrote on Telegram.

Missile launched from Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia

According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the missile was launched from a Russian tactical aircraft operating over temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast. It traveled more than 100 kilometers before being shot down just outside Dnipro.

“The type of the air target will be determined after examining debris at the crash site,” the military stated.

Brief air raid alert issued

A localized air raid alert was declared in Dnipro at 11:27 AM and lifted just seven minutes later, at 11:34 AM. During that short window, residents heard a loud explosion, which coincided with the interception of the missile.

Experimental long-range bomb suspected

Sources in Ukraine’s air defense told Suspilne the weapon may have been an experimental guided bomb (KAB) fitted with a jet engine — a modification designed to extend its range far beyond standard specifications.

“Standard KABs had a range of about 70 km. Now, with jet engines, they’re constantly trying to push that farther,” one Ukrainian Air Force source told the outlet.

While officials have not confirmed the exact model, Grom-1 appears to refer to a new-generation Russian weapon that may combine features of both guided bombs and cruise missiles.

The Russian government has not commented on the incident.

Growing threat to civilian cities

If confirmed, the deployment of a long-range KAB-type weapon could mark a shift in Russia’s airstrike strategy — allowing it to hit civilian and infrastructure targets well behind the front lines.

Cities like Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia already endure frequent KAB attacks, making daily life increasingly dangerous for residents.

While Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has largely avoided frontline combat, Russian forces are advancing from Donetsk, and several villages in the region have already begun evacuations.

Glide bombs like the KAB are difficult to shoot down because they travel at high speeds and low altitudes, leaving little time for air defense systems to respond.

Dnipro: Strategic and symbolic target

Dnipro is one of Ukraine’s largest cities and serves as a key cultural, industrial, and logistical hub. The use of advanced long-range weaponry against the city suggests a broadening of the war’s geographic scope, and highlights the ongoing challenge Ukraine faces in defending population centers far from the immediate front.