Russia said Ukraine fired long-range missiles supplied by the United States at Ukraine, a day after the United States authorized such an attack.
Ukraine used the Army Tactical Missile System (Atacms) in an attack on Russia’s Bryansk region this morning, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow said.
Five missiles were shot down, one was damaged, and its fragments caused a fire at a military facility in the area, the statement said.
The attack marked the first time a long-range missile had been used on Russia’s internationally recognized territory and came shortly after the United States signaled it had authorized Ukraine to fire Atak missiles at Russia.
On Monday, Moscow said such an attack would be triggered if it occurred. “An appropriate and practical response.”
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that the airstrikes began at 3:25 a.m. (00:25 GMT).
The fire, which was caused by debris from one of the missiles, was quickly extinguished and there were no casualties, it said.
The Ukrainian military previously confirmed that it had attacked an ammunition depot in Russia’s Bryansk region, but did not disclose whether Atakmis was used.
It said the attack, which occurred at a warehouse near the town of Karatsev, about 100km from the border, led to 12 secondary explosions.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday morning, President Putin approved changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, laying out new conditions under which Russia would consider using nuclear weapons.
It now states that attacks by non-nuclear states, if supported by nuclear states, will be treated as coordinated attacks against Russia.
