Russia says Ukraine fired 6 American-made missiles after US lifts ban

The announcement came after Biden authorised Ukraine to use US-supplied missiles to strike deeper inside Russia, easing limitations on the longer-range weapons after Russia deployed thousands of North Korean troops in the conflict.

In Short

• Russia claims it shot down five Army Tactical Missile System, damaged another
• Debris caused fire but no casualties were reported
• Biden allowed Ukraine to use US missiles deeper inside Russia on Monday

Russia's Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that Ukraine fired six US-made ATACMS missiles at Russia’s Bryansk region, just days after US President Joe Biden eased restrictions on Ukrainian use of American-made weapons in the war.

It said that the military shot down five Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS, and destroyed one more, news agency The Associated Press reported.

The debris fell on the territory of an unspecified military facility, the ministry said. Although the falling debris caused a fire, no casualties have been reported, the defence ministry said.

Ukraine claimed it hit a military weapons depot in Bryansk in the middle of the night, though it didn't specify what weapons it used, AP reported. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that several explosions were heard in the targeted area.

Biden has authorised Ukraine to use US-supplied long-range missiles to strike deeper inside Russia, easing limitations on the weapons.

The decision came after Russian President Vladimir Putin positioned North Korean troops along Ukraine’s northern border to try to reclaim several territories seized by Ukrainian forces.

Russia has said that the US's decision to allow the use of long range American-made missiles "marks a new round of tension in the Ukraine-Russia war".

Earlier on Tuesday, Putin signed a revised nuclear doctrine declaring that a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on his country.