By Anthony Marcus, correspondent. Eurasia Business News, November 19, 2024. Article no.1311.
For the first time, Ukraine has launched U.S.-provided ATACMS missiles into Russia’s Bryansk region, 75 kilometers inside the Russian territory, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict as it coincides with the 1,000th day of the war.
This action follows U.S. President Biden’s recent authorization allowing Ukraine to use these long-range weapons against targets within Russian territory, granted just two days prior to the strike.
Details of the Attack: Ukrainian forces targeted munitions storage facilities in Bryansk during a pre-dawn operation. Russian officials claimed that six missiles were launched, with five intercepted and one causing damage at the military site. However, independent verification of these claims is still pending.
Strategic Context: This development represents a notable shift in U.S. foreign policy, as Ukraine had long sought permission to strike deeper into Russian territory. The decision comes amid heightened tensions due to the deployment of North Korean troops to support Russian forces in the Kursk region, which has raised concerns about an escalation of hostilities.
Reactions from Russia: In response to Ukraine’s missile strikes, President Putin has revised Russia’s nuclear engagement strategy, indicating that attacks from non-nuclear nations involving a nuclear power will be viewed as coordinated aggression against Russia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the strikes of the Ukrainian army on the Bryansk region with U.S. ATACMS missiles would not have been possible without the participation of the United States. At the same time, he noted that he could not confirm for sure that the United States had decided to launch ATACMS strikes deep into Russia. The strike on the Bryansk region, according to him, should be considered as the intention of Western countries to escalate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
This is not the first attack with ATACMS against Russian territory. On June 24, five American ATACMS missiles launched by the Ukrainian army hit Sevastopol, killing 153 civilians, among them children.
Implications for the Conflict: The ability to strike within Russia could potentially alter the dynamics of the conflict, complicating Moscow’s military logistics and strategy. Ukrainian officials believe that targeting Russian military installations could diminish Moscow’s operational capabilities and improve Ukraine’s position in any future negotiations.
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© Copyright 2024 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 1310.
Eurasia Business News 