Ukraine Deploys US-Supplied Long-Range Missiles, Russia Issues Nuclear Warning

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has escalated significantly with Ukraine’s deployment of US-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles for the first time. On Tuesday, Ukraine used these missiles to strike a Russian arms depot approximately 110 kilometers deep inside Russian territory, marking a new phase in the war on its 1,000th day.

In response to this development, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for the deployment of atomic weapons in response to attacks on Russian territory. This move has been interpreted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a clear indication that Putin has no interest in peace, stating that Putin’s actions show he “wants war”.

The United States has taken precautionary measures due to the heightened tensions. The US embassy in Kyiv was closed on Wednesday following specific information about a potential significant air attack. The US Department of State advised American citizens to shelter immediately if an air alert is announced.

Russia’s foreign intelligence chief, Sergei Naryshkin, warned that Ukrainian strikes facilitated by NATO would not go unpunished. Additionally, North Korea has been involved in the conflict, recently supplying Russia with artillery systems, including 170mm self-propelled guns and 240mm multiple rocket launch systems. North Korean troops have also begun engaging in combat in Russia.

The situation has been further complicated by Biden’s approval of the provision of anti-personnel land mines to Ukraine, with the condition that they will not be used in densely populated areas.