Ukraine launches US‑supplied missiles in bold strike on Russia
The BBC, citing the Russian Ministry of Defence, reports that Ukraine launched long-range missiles supplied by the USA toward Russia. The attack was said to have occurred in the Bryansk region.
Many pieces of information provided by Russian state media or Kremlin officials may not be true. Such reports could be part of an information war by the Russian Federation.
"At 3.25 am Ukrainian forces fired 6 US-produced ATACMS missiles at Russia's Bryansk region," the Russian ministry stated.
According to the statement, Russia allegedly shot down five missiles and damaged one. The destruction caused debris that reportedly led to a fire at a regional military facility. No injuries were reported.
Earlier, the Ukrainian military reported that it had carried out an attack on a weapons depot near the city of Karachev in the Bryansk region of Russia. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that the target was ammunition supplies, including artillery from North Korea. However, it did not specify whether ATACMS was used.
The BBC notes that this strike marks the first time long-range missiles have been used on territory acknowledged as Russian and took place soon after Washington indicated that Ukraine is permitted to deploy ATACMS against Russia.
Russia changes doctrine
Vladimir Putin signed a decree on state policy concerning nuclear deterrence. The document was published and has already come into effect.
The updated doctrine suggests that the basis for a nuclear attack could be "aggression against the Russian Federation and its allies by a non-nuclear country with the support of a nuclear state," as well as a massive air attack using non-nuclear means, including drones.
The document signed by Vladimir Putin states, among other things, that "Russia views nuclear weapons as a deterrent, the use of which is an extreme and coercive measure."
