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“The anti-aircraft defense shot down 2 British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, 6 US-made Himars reactive missiles and 67 drones,” the Russian military said in a statement. The Ministry of Defense did not provide any information about impacts and damage.
On Tuesday, the authority reported the first use of long-range missiles over Russian soil that had been supplied by the USA, so-called ATACMS missiles. Five of the six rockets were intercepted by the anti-aircraft defense. The sixth rocket was damaged, the ministry announced on its Telegram channel. Their debris fell on a military site in the Bryansk region near the border. A fire had been extinguished. “There are no casualties or destruction,” it was said at the time.
Moscow sees the supplying countries as being involved through the use of weapons
ATACMS and Storm Shadow are long-range weapons. The Kremlin has warned against their use over Russian territory. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin claimed in October that these missiles could only be operated by Western military forces. Accordingly, any use of these weapons by Moscow would be viewed as direct participation of the relevant states in the war.
Recently, Russia had softened its nuclear doctrine in this context. Russia could also use nuclear weapons if the country was attacked by a state without nuclear weapons that was in turn supported by a nuclear power. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday once again called the US government’s behavior because of the rocket strikes irresponsible. He did not want to comment on the Storm Shadow cruise missile strike.
At the same time, he emphasized that Russia is striving to avoid a nuclear war. “We count on other countries to take an equally responsible position,” he added.
The British have so far kept a low profile about the use of their cruise missiles. British media reported on Wednesday that Ukraine had attacked targets in Russia for the first time with Storm Shadow. Only recently, according to media reports, the USA allowed Ukraine to use longer-range US-made missiles against targets in Russia.
What are Storm Shadows?
The British Storm Shadow is an air-launched cruise missile with a range of more than 250 kilometers for precision attacks on targets such as bunkers or critical infrastructure. They are identical in construction to the French Scalp missiles.
Ukraine is defending itself against Russia’s war of aggression for the third year. President Volodymyr Zelensky has long been asking Western partners to be able to use more extensive weapons on Russian territory. The reason given was that this was crucial for the course of the war.
The US release is seen as a response to Moscow’s suspected use of North Korean soldiers. Russia, in turn, sees the US weapons as an escalation and an involvement of the US and other Western states in the war.
**How does the deployment of long-range missiles, supplied by Western states, change the potential for escalation and the risk of miscalculation in the Ukraine conflict?**
## World Today News Interview: Escalation in Ukraine Conflict
**Guests:**
* **Dr. Emily Carter:** Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic Studies, specializing in nuclear proliferation and conflict resolution.
* **Alexei Volkov:** Former Russian diplomat and independent political analyst.
**Welcome:** Welcome to World Today News, where we delve into the most pressing issues of our time. Today, we’re discussing the recent escalation in the Ukraine Conflict, particularly the use of long-range missiles against Russian soil. We’re joined by Dr. Emily Carter and Alexei Volkov, who will share their expert insights on this perilous turn of events. Let’s begin.
**Section 1: Military Developments and Implications**
* **Moderator:** Dr. Carter, the article mentions the use of British-made Storm Shadow missiles and US-supplied ATACMS missiles against targets in Russia. Could you shed some light on the significance of these developments in terms of military capabilities and strategic implications?
* **Moderator:** Mr. Volkov, the Russian Ministry of Defense has expressed concerns about the involvement of Western states in the conflict due to the supply of these weapons. How do you perceive this escalation from Moscow’s perspective?
**Section 2: The Nuclear Dimension**
* **Moderator:** Dr. Carter, Russia has recently revised its nuclear doctrines to include potential use in situations where a non-nuclear state attacking Russia receives support from a nuclear power. How do you analyze this shift and its implications for global security?
* **Moderator:** Mr. Volkov, despite the heightened tension, Russia emphasizes its commitment to avoiding a nuclear war. Do you believe this commitment is genuine, and what factors might ultimately deter Russia from resorting to nuclear weapons?
**Section 3: International Reactions and Future Outlook**
* **Moderator:** Dr. Carter, the Authorization of long-range missiles to Ukraine is likely to be viewed differently by various international actors. How do you anticipate this development will affect international alliances and the broader geopolitical landscape?
* **Moderator:** Mr. Volkov, what potential scenarios do you foresee in the near future regarding the conflict in Ukraine, taking into account the recent developments and the involved parties’ stances?
**Conclusion**
* **Moderator:** Thank you both for offering your valuable perspectives. The situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, and as we’ve discussed today, the implications are far-reaching and deeply concerning. It is our hope that dialog and diplomacy will prevail in finding a peaceful resolution to this conflict.
**Note:**
This interview format is designed to encourage open discussion and diverse perspectives on a complex issue. The moderator should empower guests to express their viewpoints freely while ensuring a respectful and informative dialog.
