Ukraine Fires U.S. and UK Missiles into Russian Territory Amid Rising Tensions

Ukraine Reportedly Launches U.S.-made Missiles into Russian Territory

Late November brought with it surprising reports, as several Ukrainian news outlets disclosed that Ukraine had fired U.S.-manufactured ATACMS missiles into Russia's Bryansk Oblast region. This marked an unprecedented shift, where Ukraine was alleged to have altered its previous military tactics of merely targeting Russian-controlled sectors within Ukrainian borders.

Unverified Reports of Missile Strikes on Russian Military Facility

These developments, rumored to have transpired on November 19, drew public attention due to anonymous Ukrainian military figures asserting that a Russian military compound in Karachev within the Bryansk Oblast region was successfully targeted. The Russian Defense Ministry also confirmed these events, although external scrutiny was unable to independently verify these claims. Furthermore, a Ukrainian military spokesperson refrained from divulging any details to the Kyiv Independent.

Additional reports convey that an unclarified arsenal was utilized the night of November 19 to assault a Russian ammunition depot in Karachev, hosting a variety of artillery munitions, from North Korean to KAB guided munitions and anti-aircraft rockets, along with artillery shells.

In lieu of these events, an official from America confirmed that Ukraine had unleashed eight ATACMS missiles toward the military compound although Russian air defenses could neutralize two of these. However, the Russian Defense Ministry retorted that five missiles were intercepted, one damaged, noting that while remaining debris initiated a fire at the Bryansk Oblast military facility, no losses or damages were observed. During the wee hours of the same day, at about 2:30 am, the Armed Forces General Staff in Ukraine reported twelve hearable explosions.

Karachev Residents Report Attack on Military Base

In a related development, Karachev locals conveyed sounds of explosions and detonations, with some alleging an attack on a military base. This information was leaked in local chats and carried by Russian news agency Astra. Karachev is situated well beyond the Ukrainian border, over 100 kilometers (60 miles) away. Remarkably, ATACMS missiles boast a maximum operational range of 300 kilometers (a little over 190 miles).

In light of these recent events, unidentified American officials along with sources familiar with decision-making processes, suggested that Kyiv is prepping for its first-ever long-range missile strikes soon. Even Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky pointed out that "the missiles will speak for themselves."

Introduction of Storm Shadow Missiles in Ukrainian Arsenal Against Russia

On November 20, Ukraine debuted the usage of British-provided Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets, reveals Bloomberg with reference to witnesses in the West. The attacks have been validated in response to the North Korean armed force's presence in Russia's Kursk Oblast, perceived as Russia’s strategy of inflaming tensions.

Subsequent to outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden's validation the previous day, Ukraine used these British-made Storm Shadow missiles. The reported attack targeted a Russian military facility in Karachev, Bryansk Oblast.

Russia's Updated Nuclear Doctrine Amid Scenarios

Despite the changes made to its nuclear strategic plans, according to the U.S. Pentagon, it did not appear from the analyses that Russia has prepared to deploy nuclear weapons in the Ukrainian context. Pentagon authorities saw Russia's nuclear policy discourse as simply an extension of its previous rhetoric, indicating no specific threat.

Contradicting Russia's narrative on its updated nuclear regulations and a lower threshold for nuclear retaliation, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh declared the threats vague and baseless. She underscored that the deployment of troops from third countries—North Korea—was a sign of a clear and distinct escalation.

However, on the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized updates to Russia’s nuclear deterrence policy, allowing for a broader range of scenarios that may trigger a nuclear strike.