Moscow claims that Ukrainian forces took advantage of President Biden’s approval and launched six U.S.-made ATACMs into Russian territory on Tuesday. Russia stated that they were able to shoot down five of the missiles and damage the sixth. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported, only a small fire caused by debris near a Russian military facility in the Bryansk region.
The attack occurred just after President Biden authorized Ukraine to use American long-range missiles on Russian soil, a move that Russian President Putin had warned would be considered an act of war. The decision to approve the use of ATACMs came after Russia invited 10,000 North Korean soldiers to join the fight against Ukraine in Kursk, prompting the U.S. to respond.
It is unclear if President Biden intends to allow the use of these missiles outside the Kursk region. However, other countries like Great Britain and France have already authorized Ukraine to launch SCALP/Storm Shadow missile strikes. Putin had previously cautioned against expanding Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles, warning that it would involve NATO countries directly in the conflict.
The use of ATACMs by Ukraine on Russian soil has not yet elicited a response from Putin. Meanwhile, President-elect Trump’s transition team is gearing up to announce a peace envoy to assist in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Trump had expressed confidence during his campaign that he could resolve the conflict even before taking office.
As this story continues to unfold, stay tuned for updates on the situation. Anders Hagstrom, a reporter with Fox News Digital, is closely following national politics and breaking news events. For more information or to share tips, you can reach out to Anders Hagstrom via email at Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com or on Twitter at @Hagstrom_Anders.