The war in Ukraine has now lasted over 1,000 days, and the situation has further escalated after the United States granted permission for Ukrainian forces to strike Russian territory with ATACMS missiles. Moscow has warned and accused the West of “seeking escalation.”
After global media reported on Sunday that the US had approved Ukraine’s use of long-range ATACMS cruise missiles to strike deep within Russian territory, Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced yesterday that Ukrainian armed forces had launched an attack with six ATACMS ballistic missiles in the Bryansk region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree “On Approving the Foundations of State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence.” The updated doctrine states that the basis for a nuclear attack could be aggression against Russia and its allies by any non-nuclear state with the support of a nuclear power, as well as mass aerial attacks with non-nuclear means, especially drones.
Russian Attack on Kyiv
Ukrainian air defense units are trying to repel a Russian airstrike on Kyiv, reported the military administration of the Ukrainian capital. Witnesses confirmed to Reuters that they heard several explosions.
Ukrinform reports that an air alarm is in effect in Kyiv, and explosions are heard in the capital. The Ukrainian army also warned citizens about drones flying over Kyiv.
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New Air Raid Sirens
An air raid alarm has been declared in Kyiv and several other regions. This occurs quite regularly throughout the day, but due to the embassy closures by the US, Italy, Spain, and Greece in anticipation of an attack on Kyiv, there is an increased sense of alert.
Andriy Kovalenko from the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council told the Ukrinform news agency that Russia is “trying to spread panic among Ukrainians.”
America Closes Embassy
The United States is temporarily closing its embassy in Kyiv after receiving, as they said, “specific information about a potential large-scale air attack on November 20.”
“As a precaution, the embassy will be closed, and embassy personnel have been ordered to evacuate. The US Embassy advises American citizens to be prepared for evacuation to shelters in case an air alarm is declared,” the statement reads.
This news comes just days after the Biden administration announced that it would allow Ukraine to strike Russia with American-made weapons.
Yesterday, Moscow stated that Ukraine had hit Russia with six long-range ATACMS missiles supplied by the US.
Three European Countries Close Embassies
Suspilne, the Ukrainian state broadcaster, reports that Italy, Spain, and Greece have also closed their embassies in Kyiv today. These countries are also NATO members.
The US embassy had previously announced that it had received “specific information” about a potential significant air attack and would be closed.
Suspilne reports that intelligence indicates a combined drone and missile attack on the capital and that these developments are not believed to be related to yesterday’s change in Russia’s nuclear doctrine.
Putin Open to Talks with Trump on Ceasefire in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to discussions on a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine with newly elected US President Donald Trump, which would not involve major territorial concessions, provided Kyiv abandons its efforts to join NATO, unnamed Russian sources told Reuters.
They said Putin would agree to freeze the conflict along the front lines and that there could potentially be negotiations on precisely separating Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
Baro: Change in Russia’s Nuclear Doctrine is “Just Rhetoric”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian today assessed that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to change Russia’s nuclear doctrine is “just rhetoric.”
Le Drian stated in an interview with France 2 TV that France is not “intimidated,” Reuters reported.
Naryshkin: “NATO’s Role Will Not Go Unpunished”
Attempts by certain NATO countries to facilitate Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territory by providing long-range missiles will not go unpunished, warned Sergey Naryshkin, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service.
He emphasized that expanding the list of reasons for Russia’s use of nuclear weapons practically guarantees that Russia cannot be defeated on the battlefield, according to RIA Novosti.
“Our enemies are forced to admit that the determination of the Russian president to defend the fundamental interests of the country by all available means limits the maneuvering space for Washington and Brussels,” Naryshkin stated in an interview with the Russian journal National Defense.
Zelensky: Ukraine Will Lose War If US Halts Support
If the United States halts its support for Kyiv, Ukraine will lose the war against Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today.
In an interview with Fox News, Zelensky stated that although Ukraine has its own weapons production, it is not enough, and Kyiv will continue to fight independently of the US decision.
“If they reduce (aid), I think we will lose. We have production, but it is not enough for victory. And I think it is not enough for survival,” he said.
Zelensky noted that the first days of the war were the hardest, and from now on, everything will depend on unity in Ukraine and Europe, especially between Kyiv and Washington.
The Pentagon announced yesterday that the US State Department has approved a potential sale of military equipment and services to Ukraine worth $100 million.
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Source: Blic, Photo: AP/ Vyacheslav Prokofyev, John Hamilton/U.S. Army via AP, File, Shutterstock/ Borshch Filipp / Ringier