"At 03:25 am (0025 GMT), the enemy struck a site in the Bryansk region with six ballistic missiles. According to confirmed data, US-made ATACMS tactical missiles were used," the defence ministry as saying in a statement.
Ukraine had for months been demanding that Washington let it use the longer-range ATACMS missiles to hit sites on Russian territory.
Moscow has said the use of Western weapons to attack Russia's internationally recognised territory would make the United States a direct participant in the conflict and pledged an "appropriate and palpable response".
In its statement, Russia's defence ministry said five missiles were shot down by its air defences, while fragments from a sixth fell onto an unspecified "military facility", causing a small fire.
"There were no casualties or damage," it said.
Ukraine's foreign minister hailed on Monday the permission to use the missiles for strikes inside Russia as a potential "game changer" in the nearly three-year old conflict.
Borrell urges EU states to follow US on Ukraine missile use
Brussels, Belgium (AFP) Nov 19, 2024 -
The EU's outgoing top diplomat Josep Borrell pressed member states Tuesday to align with the United States in allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russia using donated long-range missiles.
Speaking to reporters before chairing his final EU defence ministers' meeting -- 1,000 days after Russia's invasion -- Borrell called the US policy shift "very good news" for Ukraine.
"Today we will discuss about it, and I hope that all member states will follow the US decision," he said.
"I'm sure that they will follow the example of the US in order to allow the Ukrainians to use their arms to fight against the Russians inside Russian territory -- because it is from Russian territory where they are being attacked," Borrell added.
"It is fully in accordance with international law," he said.
While President Joe Biden has not spoken publicly on the matter, a US official has confirmed Washington would now allow Kyiv to use American-supplied long-range missiles for strikes inside Russian territory.
The shift puts the focus on other allies supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles -- notably the British and French Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday ruled out, once again, his country's sophisticated Taurus missiles being sent to Ukraine for use.
But French President Emmanuel Macron -- who previously voiced openness to letting Ukraine strike military targets inside Russia -- hailed the US decision as "a good one."
As he prepared to hand over the bloc's diplomatic helm to his designated successor Kaja Kallas next month, Borrell renewed his call for European unity and ramped-up defence spending.
He warned Russia's war -- which the West says is being militarily supported by Iran and North Korea, and "enabled" by China -- had changed the international security equation for good.
"No one can escape to the consequences of this war," Borrell said. "It has changed the world. It started the new era. So let's face the current circumstances and make all the member states united in support."
Related Links
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
