Russia, Nov 20 (Alliance News): Ukraine marked the 1,000th day of its war with Russia by launching US-supplied ATACMS missiles at Russian territory, striking a military facility in the Bryansk region.
The attack comes after US President Joe Biden’s administration granted permission for Ukraine to use these long-range missiles to target deep inside Russian borders.
According to Russian officials, five out of six missiles were intercepted, but debris from one missile hit the military facility, igniting a fire that was quickly extinguished without causing casualties or significant damage.
Ukraine confirmed that its strike targeted a Russian arms depot located approximately 110 km (70 miles) inside Russia, leading to secondary explosions.
The attack, marking a new phase in the conflict, was made possible by the US decision to approve the transfer of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine.
These missiles have a range of up to 300 km, much shorter than some of Russia’s own weapons like the Kinzhal hypersonic missile, which can strike targets up to 2,000 km away.
Despite the strike, military analysts note that while the new missile capability could provide Ukraine with strategic leverage, it is unlikely to dramatically change the course of the war, which has now stretched into its 33rd month.
Moscow, already angered by the new US involvement, has warned that any use of these missiles would be considered a direct escalation and could lead to Russian retaliation.
In a related development, President Vladimir Putin signed a revised nuclear doctrine that lowers the threshold for using nuclear weapons, especially in the event of threats to Russia’s territorial integrity.
