The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defenses had shot down five ATACMS missiles launched by Ukraine against a military target in Bryansk region. The Biden administration had long declined to authorize Ukraine’s use of ATACMS in Russia, citing concerns of escalation . German leader Olaf Scholz has declined to send Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine despite pleas from Kyiv and pressure within his own government. Iran is supplying drones that Russia uses to strike Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, and North Korea has sent some 11,000 troops to Russia in recent weeks, according to U.S. and Ukrainian estimates. According to the doctrine, attacks that warrant a nuclear response are those that “pose a critical threat to the sovereignty and/or territorial integrity” of Russia or Belarus, a staunch ally where Russia also stores some of its nuclear missiles.

Source: Wall Street Journal November 19, 2024 14:52 UTC