Russia threatens retaliation after Ukraine fires US-made ATACMS missiles

Russia has warned it will respond after Ukraine launched long-range ATACMS missiles, supplied by the United States, at Russian territory for the first time. 

The strike took place in the Bryansk region of Russia on Tuesday, marking a significant moment in the ongoing conflict. 

This attack happened on the 1,000th day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, adding to the growing tensions between the two nations.

Russian officials confirmed that the missiles used were the US-made ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System). 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the attack was a clear sign that Western countries were escalating the war, calling it a “new phase” of the conflict. 

He added that Russia would react accordingly to this new development.

On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that lowers the threshold for using nuclear weapons. 

This decision has drawn strong criticism from the US, the UK, and the EU, who called it reckless. 

Putin has frequently made nuclear threats during the war, but his rhetoric has become increasingly aggressive, especially after withdrawing from major arms control treaties with the US.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to these threats by criticizing the leaders of the G20 summit in Brazil for not taking stronger action against Putin. 

He argued that the Russian president was not interested in peace. 

Zelensky also warned that if the United States reduces its military aid to Ukraine, the country could lose the war. He emphasized that while Ukraine has its own military production, it needs continued support from the West to win.

The US recently authorized Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles against military targets inside Russia, something the Ukrainian government had been requesting for some time. 

In addition, there are reports that the US has approved the shipment of antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine, which will help strengthen Ukraine‍‍`s defenses but has drawn criticism from some international groups.

The missile strike on Bryansk is just the latest in a series of escalations. 

The Russian defense ministry confirmed the strike, reporting that six ballistic missiles were used. 

Russia claims that these missiles could not have been launched without US technical assistance and warned that the US could now be seen as a direct participant in the conflict.

In response to the growing tensions, Russia has adopted a new nuclear strategy that allows the use of nuclear weapons in response to a massive conventional attack, even if the attacking nation does not have nuclear weapons. 

This new policy was part of Putin’s decree, and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov defended the move, saying it was necessary given the current situation.

As the war continues, both Ukraine and Russia are increasing their military budgets. 

Ukraine recently approved a defense budget of over $50 billion for 2025, which accounts for a large portion of the country’s total spending. 

Similarly, Russia’s parliament has approved a budget that increases defense spending by almost 30% for the coming year.

With tensions still high, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that the West must prevent Putin from succeeding in his efforts. 

He emphasized that if Russia were allowed to succeed, it could embolden the country and create a serious threat to neighboring countries.

Meanwhile, at the United Nations, over 50 member states reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops and marking the anniversary of Russia‍‍`s invasion.