January 4, 2025 9:15 PM.
Russia issued a stern warning to Ukraine, saying it will respond to the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ attempts to strike the Belgorod Region with American ATACMS operational-tactical missiles.
A statement issued by the Russian Defence Ministry said these actions by the Kyiv will be met with retaliatory measures. The ministry mentioned that the Ukrainian troops had attempted to launch an ATACMS strike on the Belgorod region yesterday.
Six US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles were used, the Russian Defence Ministry noted, adding that two of them were shot down and the rest were deflected by Russian electronic warfare systems.
Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden authorised Kyiv to use the long-range weapons against Russia last year, in a move the Kremlin denounced as a grave escalation of the nearly three year conflict.
“On January 3, an attempt was made from Ukrainian territory to launch a missile strike against the Belgorod region using US-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles,” the Russian defence ministry said.
“These actions by the Kyiv regime, which is supported by Western curators, will be met with retaliation,” it added, saying all the missiles were shot down.
The Ministry said earlier that air defences downed eight ATACMS missiles in total, without saying when or where. Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened last year to strike central Kyiv with a hypersonic ballistic missile if Ukraine continued hitting Russian territory with long-range Western weapons.
