Last week, Ukraine received permission from several Western nations to use donated weapons outside of its claimed territory. In a significant first, the Ukrainian military conducted an air-launched attack on territory it recognizes as Russian, targeting a “Russian command node” in Belgorod Region. Although Moscow has not commented on the claim, this marks a critical escalation in the conflict between the two nations since February 2022.
Despite the risks involved due to Russia’s air superiority and robust air defense systems, Ukraine has leveraged small kamikaze drones for strikes inside Russian territory. The recent attack in Belgorod Region follows Ukrainian forces suffering territorial losses in Kharkov Region, prompting Western nations like the US, UK, and France to authorize the use of limited strikes with donated weapons.
However, Ukrainian officials are pushing for permission to use long-range Western weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry has not officially responded to the recent events, but Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of potential dangerous consequences if attacks with long-range Western weapons persist.
This latest development underscores the volatile nature of the conflict in Eastern Europe and the potential for further escalation.