According to Reports, for the first time western-made missiles hits on Russia by Ukraine

Ukraine struck a Russian weapons depot with US-made ATACMS missiles, launching them across the border for the first time, according to two US officials. This event a significant escalation on the 1,000th day of the war.

This attack follows just two days after the Biden administration authorized Kyiv to deploy the longer-range American missiles against targets within Russia.

Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that Ukraine launched six ballistic missiles at a facility in Bryansk at 3:25 a.m. local time (7:25 p.m. ET) on Tuesday, confirming the use of ATACMS in this strike. This marks the initial instance of Ukraine utilizing these advanced American weapons to target areas deep within Russia, indicating that Kyiv is quickly capitalizing on its newly obtained capabilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not confirm or deny the assault during a news conference on Tuesday, but he emphasized, “Ukraine has long-range capabilities. We have our own domestically produced long-range drones. We now possess several long-range ‘Neptune’ cruise missiles and ATACMS. We intend to use all of these tools.”

Russian air defenses reported intercepting five of the missiles, with one suffering damage. Debris from the damaged missile fell onto a military facility, igniting a fire that has since been put out, and thankfully, there were no injuries or damages.

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On the same day as the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin revised Russia’s nuclear doctrine, stating that Moscow would consider aggression from any non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear country as a joint attack on Russia.

In what seemed like renewed intimidation, the Kremlin announced that this updated military doctrine might effectively lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons.

US President Joe Biden had permitted Ukraine to utilize longer-range American missiles within Russia on Sunday, lifting a months-long restriction aimed at helping Ukraine defend itself without significantly escalating the conflict.

This decision came at a pivotal juncture in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, as Russia continues to test defenses along the frontlines in Ukraine’s east while relentlessly bombarding its cities with missiles and drones. The goal is to cripple Ukraine’s power grid and exploit the freezing conditions for a third consecutive winter.

Meanwhile, thousands of North Korean troops have been sent to Russia’s Kursk region, which was the site of a brave counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces last summer.

In a press briefing on Monday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller remarked that the introduction of North Korean troops into the conflict represents “a major escalation by Russia, bringing an Asian military into a European conflict.”

The choice to allow the use of Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, inside Russia had been debated for months, with American officials split on whether permitting this capability was wise. Some were concerned about the potential escalation of the war, while others were troubled by dwindling stocks of the missiles.

Other Western allies are still treading carefully. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated at the G20 summit in Brazil on Tuesday his position against supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine, remarking that “providing cruise missiles would be a mistake.”

Although Kyiv has frequently used Ukrainian-built drones to target areas deeper within Russia, Moscow has long asserted that deploying advanced Western weapons would signify a serious escalation.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated Tuesday that Moscow views the launch of US-made longer-range missiles as a “new phase of war” instigated by the West.

American officials expressed little surprise regarding Putin’s updates to Russia’s nuclear doctrine. A US official told CNN, “Russia had been signaling its intention to revise its doctrine for several weeks.”

Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh noted during a briefing that the US does not have any signs indicating that Russia plans to employ a nuclear weapon within Ukraine, adding, “It’s the same reckless rhetoric we’ve been hearing, frankly, for the last two years.”

Russia won’t sit quitely, waiting for its next hard move, according to their officials.