Putin says Western long-range weapons will be used against Russian Federation

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 21 that Ukraine had used Western long-range weapons on Russian territory.

"On November 19, six US-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles and on November 21, in a combined missile attack, UK-made Storm Shadow and US-made Himars systems struck military facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation in the Bryansk and Kursk regions," the head of state said.

Putin noted that the regional conflict on the Ukrainian side has acquired elements of a global character after the strikes by Western long-range missiles on Russian territory.

"Experts are well aware, and the Russian side has repeatedly emphasized this, that it is impossible to use such weapons without the direct participation of military specialists of the countries that produce such weapons," he stressed.

At the same time, the Russian leader added that the use of long-range weapons by Kiev does not affect the course of the special operation, the Russian troops are successfully advancing along the entire front line.

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Earlier, on November 17, The New York Times reported that US President Joe Biden had authorized Ukraine to use US long-range missiles to strike Russia, but there was no official confirmation from Washington yet.

Later, on November 19, the Defense Ministry said that calculations of S-400 air defense missile systems and the Pantsir air defense missile and cannon system in the Bryansk region shot down five ATACMS missiles fired by the AFU and damaged another one. The wreckage of the latter fell on the territory of the military facility, without casualties or damage.

In addition, on November 21, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Russian air defenses shot down two Storm Shadow missiles launched by the Ukrainian side.

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.