Russia’s military reported on Tuesday that Ukraine launched US-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles at a military facility in the Bryansk border region, marking the first such attack since Washington authorised the use of these weapons.
According to a statement from Russia’s Defence Ministry, the missiles were fired at 03:25 am (0025 GMT), with six ballistic missiles striking the site. “At 03:25 am, the enemy struck a site in the Bryansk region with six ballistic missiles. According to confirmed data, US-made ATACMS tactical missiles were used,” the ministry confirmed.
Ukraine had long called on Washington to approve the use of ATACMS missiles to target sites on Russian soil. Moscow, however, warned that such use of Western weapons against Russian territory would make the United States a direct participant in the conflict, vowing a “suitable and visible response.”
The Russian Defence Ministry further stated that five of the missiles were intercepted by air defences, while debris from a sixth missile fell onto a “military facility,” causing a small fire. “There were no casualties or damage,” the ministry added.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister previously described the permission to use the missiles inside Russian territory as a potential “game changer” in the nearly three-year-old conflict.
AFP
