Moscow is preparing a response to Ukraine's two strikes in three days utilizing U.S.-made ATACMS missiles, according to a press statement on the website of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
In the statement, the ministry notes two particular Ukrainian attacks using ATACMS missiles on November 23 and 25 and warns of retaliation.
It said that it is "monitoring the situation and response actions are being prepared."
Newsweek reached out to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for comment via email outside of business hours.
The press statement included unlabeled photographs that Newsweek believes to be debris from ATACMS missiles.
The ministry of defense details that Ukrainian forces utilized five American-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles in an area north of Kursk on November 23 and struck the Kursk-Vostochny airfield (Khalino settlement) with eight ATACMS operational-tactical missiles on November 25.
The ministry noted that in the first attack, the crew of a Pantsir air defense missile and gun system destroyed three ATACMS missiles, but two reached their target causing injuries among personnel.
In the second attack, the ministry noted that seven missiles were shot down by combat crews, but one reached its target resulting in injuries.
Ukraine's attack on the airfield utilized ATACMS missiles with cluster warheads.
The press statement does not note Ukraine's first attack using ATACMS missiles on November 19, which struck a Russian munitions depot in Bryansk Oblast shortly after President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to use long-range weapons to conduct deep-strikes into Russian territory.
Ukraine also targeted a military compound in Kursk in an attack utilizing Anglo-French Storm Shadow missiles on November 20.
Russia retaliated by attacking Dnipro with a new hypersonic ballistic missile called Oreshnik.
John Kirby, a White House national security spokesman, confirmed that Ukraine has been given permission to use long-range weapons in strikes against Russia "on an immediate-need basis, and right now, understandably, that's taken place in and around Kursk."
Kirby added that the White House gave Ukraine "guidance that they can use them to strike...particular types of targets."
Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev wrote on Telegram that should the U.S. transfer nuclear weapons to Kyiv there would be serious consequences, although there is no evidence that the U.S. has plans to send such weapons to Ukraine.
"The very threat of transferring nuclear weapons to the Kyiv regime can be considered preparation for nuclear conflict with Russia," Medvedev wrote.
"The actual transfer of such weapons can be equated to an act of attack on our country under article 19 of the Fundamentals of State Policy in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence," he wrote.
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