Russia announced on Tuesday that Ukraine launched six American-manufactured ATACMS long-range missiles into its Bryansk region in the west.
Ukraine has not yet acknowledged using the ATACMS, which would mark their first deployment since President Joe Biden authorised Kyiv to use them against Russia, following persistent requests from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Last night at 3.25 (0025 GMT) the enemy struck a facility in the Bryansk region with six ballistic missiles. According to confirmed data, American-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles were used,” the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
The statement also read that, Russian air defence systems intercepted five missiles and damaged one, with fragments landing on a military installation. The ministry further reported that whilst a fire broke out, it was swiftly contained with no casualties or structural damage reported.
This comes after Biden administration’s decision to grant Ukraine access to American missiles for long-range strikes on Russian positions, which Moscow condemned as a “reckless” move that could dangerously escalate the conflict. According to reports, Washington’s shift in policy was also driven by concerns over North Korean troops recently deployed to bolster Russian forces, a development that has raised alarms in both Washington and Kyiv.
The Ukrainian foreign minister described the authorisation as a potential “game changer” in the conflict that has persisted for almost three years.
Russia has indicated that the American approval for such attacks was irresponsible and would elicit a response.
Earlier in the day, President Vladimir Putin approved a revised nuclear doctrine that reduces the criteria for considering nuclear weapon deployment. The updated policy states that any conventional attack on Russia by a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear power will be interpreted as a combined assault.
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“They [the changes] have already been practically formulated. They will be formalised as necessary,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had said.
Additionally, it specified that any large-scale aerospace assault using aircraft, cruise missiles and unmanned vehicles breaching Russian borders could warrant a nuclear response.