On the 1,000th day of war, Ukraine has escalated tensions by firing US-made ATACMS missiles into Russia's Bryansk region. This move follows the recent approval from the Biden administration allowing Kyiv to use longer-range American weapons against targets inside Russia.
The attack, which took place at 3:25 a.m. local time on Tuesday, involved the launch of six ballistic missiles at a facility in Bryansk. Russian air defenses managed to intercept five of the missiles, with one being damaged. Fortunately, there were no casualties or significant damage reported.
This marks the first instance of Ukraine utilizing longer-range American weapons to strike deep inside Russia, demonstrating a swift response to the newly-granted authority. The decision to permit the use of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) inside Russia had been a subject of debate among American officials for months, with concerns about escalating the conflict and depleting weapon stockpiles.
Following the missile attack, President Vladimir Putin promptly updated Russia's nuclear doctrine. The revised doctrine now considers aggression from any non-nuclear state, in collaboration with a nuclear country, as a joint attack on Russia.
The timing of these events is critical, as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine by probing frontlines in the east and launching missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities. Additionally, reports indicate the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces executed a daring counteroffensive in the summer.
The situation remains fluid, with global implications as major powers navigate the complexities of the conflict. The use of advanced weaponry and strategic maneuvers underscore the high stakes and evolving dynamics in the region.
