19-11-2024 (MOSCOW) Russia has reported its first encounter with US-made ATACMS missiles on its territory, claiming Ukraine launched six of these sophisticated weapons at the western Bryansk region in a pre-dawn attack.
The Russian Defence Ministry disclosed that the incident occurred at 3:25 AM, stating their air defence systems successfully intercepted five missiles whilst the sixth was damaged, with fragments reportedly striking a military installation. Officials maintain the resulting fire was swiftly contained with no casualties reported.
Ukrainian military sources, speaking on condition of anonymity to Forbes Ukraine and RBC Ukraine, confirmed the unprecedented deployment of ATACMS missiles, targeting facilities near Karachev, more than 110 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. The strike reportedly triggered twelve secondary explosions, suggesting the target may have been an ammunition depot.
The deployment marks a crucial turning point in the conflict, coming after months of diplomatic pressure from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for access to these advanced weapons. Washington’s previous reluctance to authorise such strikes stemmed from concerns about potential escalation with Moscow.
In what appears to be a direct response, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a revised nuclear doctrine on the same day, significantly lowering the threshold for potential nuclear weapon deployment. The updated policy notably classifies any conventional attack by a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear power as a joint assault, potentially warranting a nuclear response.
Defence analyst Dr. Alexandra Peterson notes the timing is particularly significant: “This represents a fundamental shift in the conflict’s dynamics, especially considering recent reports of North Korean troops supplementing Russian forces – a development that reportedly influenced Washington’s decision to green-light ATACMS use.”
The Kremlin had previously warned that Western-supplied long-range missiles striking Russian territory would effectively constitute direct Western involvement in the conflict. Putin emphasised in September that such actions would fundamentally alter the nature and scope of the war.
