Moscow Threatens US Over Allowing Ukraine for Missile Strikes on Russian Soil. Credit | Getty Images
United States: On Monday, the Kremlin loathed US President Biden’s decision to green-light the usage of long-range missiles, that were supplied by the US in Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia, describing it as an action that will only “fuel the fire” of the ongoing conflict and escalate international tensions to dangerous levels.
Details of the Situation
Biden’s change in approach superimposed an unpredictable, additional dimension to the war just as the conflict entered its 1,000-day mark since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in 2022.
It also came as a Russian ballistic missile with cluster munitions hit a residential area of Sumy in northern Ukraine and left 11 people killed, including two children, and 84 more injured.
Another missile strike caused fires in residential apartments in the Odesa region; at least ten people were killed, and 43 were injured, including a child, the Interior Ministry of Ukraine noted.
Washington is now lifting restrictions on what Ukraine can target with the American-made Army Tactical Missile System or ATACMs, US officials said to The Associated Press on Sunday, following months of ruling out such a move over concerns of aggravating the conflict and ensuring direct fighting between Russia and NATO.
Kremlin Reaction
“It is obvious that the outgoing administration in Washington intends to take steps, and they have been talking about this, to continue adding fuel to the fire and provoking further escalation of tensions around this conflict,” said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
While the specifics of the new missile guidelines remain unclear, the decision follows recent reports that North Korean troops have been deployed to Russian-held territories, including the Kursk region along the Ukrainian border, allegedly to help force Ukrainian forces out.
Meanwhile, Russia is tightening its grip on Ukraine’s understrength military in the eastern Donetsk province while intensifying aerial bombardments against civilian targets, according to AP News.
The situation remains fluid as Russia presses its advantage in the eastern regions of Ukraine and continues its deadly attacks on non-military targets across the country.
