The Russian Ministry of Defense said that 6 U.S.-made long-range ATACMS missiles had struck in the Bryansk border region.
Ukraine has conducted its first strikes inside Russian territory with U.S.-made long-range ATACMS missiles, according to Russia’s Ministry of Defense.
On Telegram, Russia’s Ministry of Defense posted that on Nov. 19 at 03:25, the “enemy launched strikes by six ballistic missiles targeting a facility in Bryansk region.”
It said that according to confirmed data,“U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles have been used.”
Missiles
It added that as a result of an anti-missile operation, “S-400 and Pantsir SAM systems shot down five missiles and damaged one.”
“Its fragments hit the technical territory of the military facility in Bryansk region, causing a fire that was quickly eliminated,” according to the ministry.
Russia said that there were no casualties or damage.
Reuters reported that Kyiv said on Tuesday it struck a Russian arsenal near the town of Karachev in the Bryansk region, over 110 km (70 miles) from Ukraine.
There was no official confirmation from Ukraine about what weapon was used.
According to anonymous U.S. officials who spoke to media outlets, President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use long-range missiles provided by the Pentagon to strike targets in the Russian region of Kursk.
Ukraine had long been seeking permission to use long-range weapons inside Russian territories, but Biden had remained opposed. Previously, Biden said he felt allowing U.S. missiles to be used on Russian territories could draw the United States and other NATO members into direct conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that if NATO allies allow Ukraine to strike inside Russian territory, it would be considered direct involvement in the war, and that Moscow could provide long-range weapons to others to strike Western targets.
In his first comments following the missile launch, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the need to intensify pressure on Russia. Speaking to participants of an extraordinary session of the European Parliament marking the 1,000th day of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Zelensky said, “Every ’today’ is the best moment to push Russia harder.”
By Owen Evans
