Ukraine recently made headlines after firing UK-made Storm Shadow missiles into Russia in response to the deployment of North Korean troops on Russia’s border with Ukraine. This marked the first confirmed use of British weapons on Russian soil during the conflict. The decision to approve the strikes came after the US president, Joe Biden, agreed to do the same with American Atacms weapons.
The Storm Shadow missiles are known for their precision targeting capabilities and have a maximum range of about 155 miles. These missiles have been used to target Russian-occupied Crimea in the past. The recent use of these missiles against a suspected command headquarters in Russia signifies a significant escalation in the conflict.
Western officials have indicated that the missiles are specifically targeting the North Korean buildup in the Kursk region, as well as infrastructure that may be used for potential military offensives against Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the use of US and UK-made missiles within Russia’s borders could lead to a direct conflict with Moscow.
In response to the missile strikes, the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, stated that Moscow would respond appropriately. Russian MPs have also warned that the actions taken by the US and Ukraine are bringing the world closer to a potential world war three. Putin even signed a revised nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for using nuclear weapons in response to the escalating tensions.
The Pentagon has stated that there are currently no indications that Russia is planning to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Despite this, the US embassy in Kyiv temporarily closed after receiving warnings of a potential significant air attack. American citizens were advised to be prepared to move to shelters in the event of an air raid warning.
The closure of the US embassy in Kyiv caused a sense of nervousness in the city, with residents gathering in metro stations and other locations to seek shelter. The embassy is expected to return to normal operations soon, as no specific threat has been confirmed. Additionally, the US has approved the provision of anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine to help deter Russian assaults.
In response to these developments, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the US and President Joe Biden for providing landmines to help defend against potential Russian attacks. The situation remains tense, with reports of Russian long-range bombers being scrambled in preparation for a missile strike against Ukraine, prompting temporary closures of multiple embassies in the region. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate, raising concerns of a wider conflict involving other nations.
