On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that it had successfully intercepted a Ukrainian ATACMS missile strike in the western Bryansk region.
This occurred shortly before the Kremlin updated its nuclear doctrine, allowing for potential nuclear retaliation against foreign ballistic missile attacks.
According to the ministry’s official Telegram, Ukrainian forces launched six ballistic missiles, five of which were shot down, while the sixth was damaged. It was confirmed that the missiles were American-made ATACMS. Fragments of the missiles reportedly fell on a military site in Bryansk, causing a fire that was later extinguished.
This statement followed comments by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who noted that President Vladimir Putin had signed a revised nuclear doctrine that allows Russia to respond with nuclear force if Western non-nuclear missiles are used by Ukraine against Russian territory.
Peskov’s remarks came after U.S. officials confirmed to ABC News that President Joe Biden had authorized Ukraine to use the long-range ATACMS missile system to target areas in Russia’s western Kursk region, which borders Bryansk. The specific target of the Ukrainian strike remains unclear, and Kyiv has not yet responded to the Russian report.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggested that the ATACMS attack signals an intention from Western nations to escalate the conflict. He also stated that these advanced missiles could not be used without American involvement, as President Putin had previously mentioned.
The exact level of U.S. support in Ukraine’s use of the ATACMS remains unclear, though Ukraine relies entirely on the U.S. for missile replacements.
The Biden administration has not publicly confirmed the policy change regarding ATACMS use, although State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller did not deny or confirm the approval.
He emphasized that the U.S. would respond firmly to any military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, with reports indicating that 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed in Russia’s Kursk region.
The updates to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which were signed by Putin on Tuesday, now state that Russia could launch nuclear attacks against countries aiding non-nuclear states in acts of aggression that threaten Russia’s territorial integrity.
Russia has made frequent threats of nuclear escalation against Ukraine and its Western supporters since the beginning of its invasion.
Western leaders, including President Biden, have prioritized avoiding a direct conflict between Russia and NATO due to the risks of nuclear war.
