The Kremlin announced that it intercepted a Ukrainian attack involving U.S.-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles aimed at targets inside Russia, escalating tensions with warnings of potential nuclear responses.
U.S. officials confirmed that Ukraine used ATACMS for the first time against Russian targets, with reports indicating that eight missiles were launched, two of which were intercepted. The remaining missiles reportedly struck an ammunition storage site in the Bryansk region.
In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed the attack caused a fire at a military facility, asserting that “five of the missiles were downed.” Peskov linked the missile strike to a broader issue within Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine, suggesting that using Western missiles by Ukraine could provoke a nuclear response.
State Department spokesperson Matt Miller expressed concern regarding Russia’s “irresponsible rhetoric,” noting that the U.S. does not perceive a direct threat from Russia or NATO and that no adjustments to U.S. nuclear posture are necessary.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Western nations of promoting escalation through Ukraine’s use of advanced weaponry, reiterating that such high-tech operations couldn’t occur without U.S. involvement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declined to confirm if ATACMS were specifically used in the Bryansk strike but emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to using all available long-range weapons in its defense.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials have revealed that around 10,000 North Korean troops are stationed in Russia’s Kursk region, indicating the potential for further escalation. The updated Russian nuclear doctrine allows for nuclear strikes against countries assisting non-nuclear states in actions seen as threatening to its territorial integrity.
Nuclear threats from Moscow have become increasingly common throughout its invasion of Ukraine, with Western leaders prioritizing the prevention of direct conflict between Russia and NATO to mitigate the risk of nuclear war.
Credit: ABC News
