Russia’s military reported on Tuesday that Ukraine had used US-supplied long-range missiles to strike a military facility in the Bryansk border region, marking the first attack of its kind since Washington authorized the use of these weapons. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the strike occurred at 03:25 am (0025 GMT), with six ballistic missiles fired at the target.

The ministry confirmed that the missiles used in the attack were US-made ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System), which had been a key request from Ukraine for months. Kyiv had been seeking permission from Washington to use the long-range missiles to target military sites on Russian territory.

Russia's Response
Moscow condemned the use of Western weapons against its territory, warning that such actions would escalate the involvement of the United States in the conflict. Russia has previously stated that any direct attack on Russian soil with Western arms would be considered an act of aggression and promised an "appropriate and palpable response."

The Russian Ministry of Defence reported that five of the six missiles were intercepted by its air defences, while fragments of the sixth missile fell on a military facility, causing a small fire. Fortunately, the ministry stated there were no casualties or significant damage as a result of the attack.

A Shift in Conflict?
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, celebrated the green light from the US to use ATACMS missiles as a potential “game changer” in the ongoing conflict. The attack is seen as a significant development in the nearly three-year-old war, with these longer-range missiles giving Ukraine a new capability to strike deeper into Russian-held territories. The implications of this shift in military tactics could further escalate tensions between Moscow and the West, with both sides preparing for potential counteractions.