The war in Ukraine has taken a chilling new turn, with reports that Ukraine has launched American-made ATACMS missiles into Russian territory, targeting a military facility in Bryansk. This is the first confirmed instance of Kyiv using Western long-range missiles to strike inside Russia—a move that could escalate the conflict to unprecedented levels. As tensions skyrocket, the specter of nuclear retaliation by Moscow looms ominously on the horizon.
According to Bloomberg, Ukrainian forces fired six ATACMS missiles at a warehouse in the Bryansk region, roughly 115 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The strike reportedly detonated ammunition stored at the site. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed the attack but has been tight-lipped about the specifics, citing classified information. This marks a significant escalation in the conflict, as the Biden administration recently gave Kyiv the green light to use these weapons in limited operations against Russian targets.
Russia wasted no time responding to the provocation. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Moscow views such attacks as aggression not just by Ukraine but by the United States and its NATO allies. He emphasized that the involvement of Western-supplied missiles constitutes an attack by a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear power—a critical point under Russia’s newly updated nuclear doctrine.
President Vladimir Putin has expanded Russia’s conditions for deploying nuclear weapons, allowing their use in response to a massive conventional attack on Russian soil. The doctrine now explicitly includes aggression involving conventional weapons if it threatens Russia’s sovereignty or territorial integrity. Putin’s warning to the West was unequivocal: permitting Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia risks dragging NATO directly into the conflict.
Russia’s new nuclear doctrine means NATO missiles fired against our country could be deemed an attack by the bloc on Russia. Russia could retaliate with WMD against Kiev and key NATO facilities, wherever they’re located. That means World War III.
— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) November 19, 2024
This escalation is not without precedent. Ukraine has used drones to hit targets inside Russia for months, but the use of U.S.-supplied missiles is a game-changer. The reach and precision of ATACMS could enable Ukraine to target critical military infrastructure, including air bases deep within Russian territory, raising the stakes for both sides.
The world is now walking a tightrope. With Putin’s nuclear doctrine updated and his warnings increasingly dire, the risk of miscalculation grows by the day. As Western nations continue to arm Ukraine, they must weigh the consequences of further escalation against their commitment to Kyiv’s sovereignty.
The need for peace has never been more urgent. Every new strike, every updated doctrine, brings the world one step closer to a catastrophic conflict no one can afford to unleash.