Tensions between Ukraine and Russia have escalated as Ukraine launched US long-range missiles into Russian territory for the first time. Russian President Vladimir Putin responded by lowering the threshold for a nuclear strike in the face of conventional attacks.
The predawn attack targeted an ammunition warehouse in the Bryansk region of southwestern Russia using six long-range ballistic missiles known as the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). This move came shortly after President Joe Biden authorized Kyiv to fire American missiles deep into Russia, marking a significant shift in US policy.
Putin signed a decree allowing Russia to respond with nuclear weapons to any conventional attack on its soil that threatens its sovereignty, including attacks carried out by drones. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov interpreted the attack as a signal that the West aims to escalate the conflict in Ukraine.
Lavrov highlighted that the use of ATACMS indicates the involvement of the US in providing sophisticated weaponry to Ukraine. Putin had previously warned that Western approval of such strikes would mean direct involvement of NATO countries in the conflict, as NATO infrastructure and personnel would be required for targeting and firing the missiles.
The strike was a demonstration of Ukraine’s military capabilities and its determination to degrade Russia’s forces with the support of Western allies. Ukrainian officials had been seeking permission for months to use ATACMS against military targets in Russia, and the Biden administration finally granted authorization.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed that five of the missiles were intercepted, and the sixth was damaged, causing a fire at the military facility but resulting in no casualties. This incident underscores the growing tensions and the potential for further escalation in the region.
As the conflict continues, the international community closely watches the developments and the impact of these military actions on the stability of the region. The use of advanced weaponry like ATACMS raises concerns about the broader implications of the conflict and the potential for a further escalation that could have far-reaching consequences.
