Ukraine Reportedly Shoots US Long-Range Missiles Into Russia
Ukraine has launched six US-made ATACMS missiles into Russia, Russia’s Defense Ministry said according to the Moscow Times.
This news comes just a day after outgoing US President Joe Biden gave Kyiv the green light to use longer-range weapons against Russian targets.
The ministry said that S-400 air defense systems and Pantsir missile systems intercepted five of the ATACMS missiles, while one missile was damaged.
Missile fragments fell into a military facility and caused a fire, however this has been extinguished and no casualties or property damage were reported.
If confirmed by Ukraine, this attack would mark the first time the country used longer-range US weapons to hit targets deep in Russia.
This potential escalation was preceded by Putin’s concerning decision to lower Russia’s threshold to use nuclear weapons. Russia can now consider using nuclear weapons if it faces a conventional missile attack supported by a nuclear-armed state.
According to the revised policy, Russia could justify a nuclear strike in response to conventional missile attacks, drone strikes, or aggression involving aircraft, particularly if such an assault is backed by a nuclear power.
Furthermore, the doctrine specifies that aggression against Russia by a member of a coalition would be treated as an attack by the entire coalition.
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