Ukraine hits Russia with US ATACMS missiles for first time

Ukraine used U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles to hit a Russian military site in the Bryansk region on Tuesday, marking a significant escalation in the war as it entered its 1,000th day. The attack was carried out with approval from the Biden administration, granted just this week.

Russia claimed its forces intercepted five of the six missiles, with debris from one causing a fire at a military facility. Moscow reported no casualties or significant damage. Ukraine stated it targeted a Russian arms depot, causing explosions but did not initially specify the weapons used. U.S. and Ukrainian officials later confirmed the use of ATACMS, the longest-range missiles provided by Washington.

The strike comes amid growing tensions, with Russia warning that the use of such weapons could be seen as direct U.S. involvement in the war. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an updated nuclear doctrine lowering the threshold for potential atomic weapon use to include threats to Russia’s territorial integrity.

Markets reacted nervously to the developments, with European shares sliding and safe-haven assets rising.

As winter approaches, both sides are intensifying efforts to gain an upper hand ahead of potential peace talks. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged diplomatic solutions to end the war in 2024, while U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has criticized ongoing aid to Kyiv, hinting at a push for negotiations.

The war has caused widespread destruction, with thousands of civilians killed, millions displaced, and cities reduced to rubble. Military losses remain classified, but Western estimates suggest hundreds of thousands have been wounded or killed on both sides.

Despite heavy losses, both Ukraine and Russia continue their offensives. Russia has deployed additional troops and North Korean reinforcements in contested regions, while Ukraine leverages recent gains in the Russian Kursk region to strengthen its position.