Ukraine fires French, British supplied missiles at Russia

KYIV: Ukrainian forces sent another volley of missiles on Russian targets, supplied by the United Kingdom (UK) and France.

The move follows a previous day when Ukraine launched missiles provided the United States (US) against Russian positions.

Read more: US shuts embassy after Ukraine fires ATACMS at Russia

The US embassy closed down in Ukraine following the escalation in tensions. The US cited fear of potential Russian attacks as reason of closure.

US President Joe Biden authorised the use of US weaponry for Ukraine to target Russian territory, after years of adopting a more cautious approach.

Meanwhile, the Russian air defense units intercepted the Ukrainian drones across six regions. While some damage was reported, Russian officials confirmed that there were no casualties.

In response to Biden administration allowing Ukraine to target locations within Russian territory, Russian President Vladimur  Putin formally revised his country’s nuclear doctrine.

Under the revised policy, Russia is permitted a potential nuclear response to conventional attacks that are supported by nuclear-armed states.

The updated nuclear policy from Kremlin states that any conventional assault on Russia, especially if backed by a nuclear power, will be intercepted as a collective attack on the nation.

Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, suggested that Russia might consider a nuclear response if Ukraine employed Western-supplied missiles against Russian positions.

Tensions in the region has worsened since Russian invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The war has officially been ongoing for a thousand days, with Russia having gained 21 per cent of Ukrainian territory.

Despite predictions of Russia easily gaining control of Ukraine given superior military might, the former Soviet successor made few gains since the war started, surprising many.

Several flaws in Russian military were exposed, with Ukraine able to fend out greater advance, supported by US and other western allies.

Read more: US accuses Russia of “bellicose” and “irresponsible” rhetoric

Many have estimated Russia losing up to 115,000 troops since the war began, in contrast to 80,000 (estimated) from Ukraine. Thousands of North Korean troops were also sighted in the Kursk region of Russia to replenish the dwindling supply.