Russia says Ukraine fired ATACMS at Belgorod region, vows retaliation
- 5 January, 09:28
Russia on Saturday accused Ukraine of firing US-supplied ATACMS long-range missile at its border region of Belgorod the previous day.
“On January 3, an attempt was made from Ukrainian territory to launch a missile attack against the Belgorod region using US-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement on Saturday. The ministry vowed retaliation for “actions by the Kyiv regime, which is supported by Western curators”, adding that all the Ukrainian missiles were shot down.
Earlier on Saturday, Russian Defence Ministry said its air forces downed eight ATACMS missiles, without specifying when or where. No casualties were reported during the attack. Saturday saw heavy fighting with five people killed in both sides and with Russia and Ukraine claiming downing dozens of drones. Kyiv has not yet responded to Russia’s accusation yet.
Ukraine started using US-made Army Tactical Missile Systems, ATACMS, deep into Russian territory after outgoing President Joe Biden in November last year lifted limit on Ukraine’s use of these missiles in a move that Kremlin denounced as escalation of the three-year conflict. Ukraine struck Russia’s Bryansk region with ATACMS in December. Russia responded by striking Ukraine with intercontinental ballistic missile and threatened to attack capital Kyiv with more hypersonic missiles if Ukraine continued targeting Russian territory with long-range weapons.
US President-elect Donald Trump said in an interview last month that he was opposed to Ukraine using Western-provided long-range missiles, which he said escalated the conflict.
