Ukraine Strikes Russia with Biden-Approved Western Missiles: What Happens Next?

The conflict in Ukraine escalated significantly on Tuesday, with reports of Ukraine targeting Russia using Western-supplied missiles. Ukrainian forces allegedly launched six ATACMS missiles at a military facility in the Bryansk region of Russia, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Five missiles were intercepted by S-400 and Pantsir air defense systems, while fragments of a damaged missile caused a fire in a military facility's technical zone, the ministry stated.

The Russian media outlet Slava Z and BRICS News reported that in response to these developments, Russian President Vladimir Putin updated the country’s nuclear doctrine. This follows reports of U.S. President Joe Biden approving Ukraine's use of long-range missiles. The revised doctrine, formalized by presidential decree, includes the following key points:

- An attack on Russia or its allies by a non-nuclear state, supported by a nuclear state, will be considered a joint aggression.
- Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if there is a critical threat to its sovereignty or territorial integrity, including that of Belarus.
- The use of ballistic missiles, such as ATACMS, against Russia constitutes grounds for a nuclear response.
- A nuclear response may also be triggered by a large-scale conventional attack, including military aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, or their crossing of Russian borders.
- Offering territory or resources for aggression against Russia is considered a justification for nuclear deterrence.

Moscow has warned Western countries to cease facilitating long-range missile strikes within Russian territory, emphasizing the risks of further escalation.