UN calls for protection of civilians amid authorization of AFU strikes deep into Russian Federation

The United Nations has called for the safety of civilians amid reports that US President Joe Biden allegedly authorized strikes from the territory of Ukraine deep into Russia with ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles. The official representative of the Secretary General of the world organization Stephane Dujarric said at a briefing on November 18.

"All sides must ensure the safety and protection of civilians wherever they are," RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

Earlier, on November 17, The New York Times reported that Biden allegedly allowed Ukraine to use US long-range missiles to strike Russia. Le Figaro newspaper wrote at the same time that the French and British authorities had made a similar decision, but then removed this information from the article. European Union (EU) diplomacy chief Josep Borrel said afterwards that on November 18-19 the issue of lifting restrictions on strikes deep into Russia with European weapons would be discussed.

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At the same time, Deputy National Security Advisor to the US President John Feiner did not confirm on November 18 that Washington had given such permission to Kiev. The official emphasized that the White House bases its decisions on the situation on the battlefield.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitriy Peskov, commenting on the possible authorization for Ukraine to use ATACMS for strikes on Russian territory, pointed out that such a step by the USA would become a qualitatively new round of tension, and Moscow's position on this issue is clear to everyone.

In her turn, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that Russia's response if Ukraine uses long-range ATACMS missiles for strikes on Russian territory will be adequate and tangible.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Ukraine amid Russia's special operation to protect Donbass, which began on February 24, 2022. The decision to conduct it was taken by the Russian president because of the aggravation of the situation in the region due to the increased shelling by Ukrainian troops.