“The United States broke the treaty”… Announcement of shooting down Ukrainian missiles and drones
Ukraine’s first attack on Russia’s Kursk air base with Atacs
Russia said it may consider deploying short- and medium-range missiles in Asia in response to U.S. actions. The battle between the two sides is intensifying, with Ukraine striking an air base on mainland Russia for the first time with the US-made ATACMS missile.
According to the TASS news agency on the 25th (local time), Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryevkov responded to a reporter’s question about whether Russia was considering the possibility of deploying short- and medium-range missiles to Asian countries, saying, “Of course, this is one of the potential options that has been mentioned repeatedly.” He said. He said, “Our next steps, including military and military-technical responses, will be determined depending on which region of the world such an American system appears.”
Deputy Minister Ryukkov emphasized on the 21st that there are no international restrictions on the deployment of the new intermediate-range ballistic missile ‘Oreshnik’ used by Russia in the attack on Ukraine.
He explained that there were restrictions on the production and deployment of intermediate- and short-range missiles under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed between the United States and the former Soviet Union in 1987, but that restrictions in this area were removed when the United States announced its withdrawal from the treaty in 2019. . However, Deputy Minister Ryabkov said that since the Memorandum of Understanding on Missile Launch Notification signed between Russia and the United States in 1998 is still in effect, Russia notified the United States when it test-launched Oreshnik.
The missile battle between Russia and Ukraine continued. The Russian military announced that it shot down eight ballistic missiles launched by Ukraine that day. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on this day, “Over the past 24 hours, our air defense system shot down 8 ballistic missiles launched by Ukraine, US-made Joint Direct Attack Missiles (JDAM), and 45 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).” However, the type of ballistic missile or the location where it was shot down were not disclosed.
There were reports that Ukraine struck an air base on mainland Russia for the first time that day with an American-made ATACMS missile.
According to the U.S. military media outlet Warzone, Ukraine attacked the Kalino Air Force Base in Kursk, Russia, about 100 km from the border, with Atams. This is the second time that Ukraine has mobilized ATACMS to attack the Russian mainland, following on the 19th. At the time, the target was Russia’s Bryansk military facility, and this was the first attack on an air force base.
However, Warzone said that the satellite photos it obtained were blurry in key areas and did not show extensive signs of damage to the attacked base. He also added that this place has not been used as a base for major operations by the Air Force for quite some time.
Posts containing the circumstances of the attack on Ukraine’s Kalino Air Force Base are also appearing on social networking services (SNS). Warzone reported that videos and images posted on social media showed Atacs bombs hitting an airfield.
ASTRA, an independent Russian media outlet, also reported on Telegram that “7 ATAX missiles and 12 drones attacked the Kursk region at night,” adding, “Many of the missiles were shot down, but at least one struck the Kalino Air Force Base, injuring two soldiers.” revealed.
* **What are the major motivations behind Russia’s deployment of short- and medium-range missiles to Asia?**
## World Today News Interview: The Escalating Russia-Ukraine Conflict
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today, we’ll be discussing the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, fueled by recent missile attacks and diplomatic maneuvering. Joining us are two expert guests:
* **Dr. Anna Petrov,** a Senior Fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, specializing in Russian military strategy and international security.
* **Professor David Thompson,** Chair of International Relations at the University of [Prestigious University Name] with expertise in post-Soviet politics and conflict resolution.
**Section 1: Missile Deployments and Treaty Violations**
* **Host:** Dr. Petrov, Russia has stated that it might deploy short- and medium-range missiles to Asia in response to US actions. Can you elaborate on the significance of this potential move? What are the implications for regional security dynamics?
* **Host:** Professor Thompson, Russia cites the US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty as justification for its missile program. What is your perspective on the US justifies for withdrawing from this treaty, and what impact has it had on the current situation?
**Section 2: Battlefield Developments and Targeting**
* **Host:** Dr. Petrov, Ukraine has reportedly struck a Russian air base for the first time with US-made ATACMS missiles. What does this tell us about the evolving capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces and their strategic objectives?
* **Host:** Professor Thompson, social media reports suggest contradictory information about the extent of damage caused by these strikes. How reliable are these sources, and what challenges does this kind of information warfare pose to understanding the conflict?
**Section 3: Diplomatic Solutions and Future Outlook:**
* **Host:** Dr. Petrov, given these escalating tensions and military developments, is there any viable path to de-escalation and a diplomatic solution?
* **Host:** Professor Thompson, what role can international actors like the UN and NATO play in mediating this conflict? What are your predictions for the trajectory of the Russia-Ukraine war in the coming months?
**Conclusion:**
Thank you, Dr. Petrov and Professor Thompson, for sharing your valuable insights. This discussion highlights the complexities of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the crucial need for dialog and de-escalation to prevent further bloodshed and instability. We encourage our viewers to stay informed and engage in thoughtful discussion surrounding this critical issue.
