Ukraine Strikes Inside Russia with US-Provided Long-Range Missiles, Marking Significant Escalation.
In a significant development, Ukraine has reportedly conducted an airstrike inside Russia using the long-range ATACMS missiles provided by the United States. This marks the first time Ukraine has utilized such capabilities since President Joe Biden authorized their usage for strikes within Russian territory.
The strike reportedly targeted a facility belonging to the 67th Arsenal of the Russian military‘s Main Missile and Artillery Directorate, which was reported to contain a stockpile of artillery munitions, including North Korean shells, as well as guided aerial bombs, anti-aircraft missiles, and ammunition for multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).
President Joe Biden had refused to allow Ukraine to use long-range US weapons for strikes inside Russia, concerned about the potential for further escalation. However, the deployment of up to 10,000 North Korean soldiers to aid Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine appears to have shifted Biden’s position, as reported by The Daily Telegraph.
The newspaper stated that Biden saw the involvement of North Korea as an escalation that necessitated the authorization for the use of these long-range missiles within Russian territory.
RBC Ukraine quoted an unnamed source confirming the strike, stating, “Indeed, for the first time, we used ATACMS to strike Russian territory. The strike was carried out against a facility in the Bryansk region, and it was successfully hit.”
Social media footage from the site showed powerful fires, corroborating the reports of the strike’s impact. This latest development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as Ukraine now has the capability to strike targets deep within Russian territory using advanced US-provided weapons.
The broader implications of this shift in the military dynamics remain to be seen, as the war continues to evolve with potentially far-reaching consequences.
