US expresses concern over Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia's strategic Voronezh radars – WP
"Voronezh-M" radar. Photo: russianarms.ru
The US government is worried that Ukrainian drone strikes against Russia's nuclear early warning system could lead to a potentially dangerous reaction from the Kremlin. The White House is currently debating whether to remove restrictions on the use of American weapons against Russian targets.
The Washington Post writes about this.
"The United States is concerned about Ukraine's recent strikes on Russian early-warning facilities that track ballistic missiles," the newspaper quoted a US official on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
He noted that Washington expressed concern to Kyiv over attacks on two radar stations, which serve as both a conventional air defense and a means of detecting nuclear launches in the West.
According to the American official, these objects were not directly involved in the Russian war against Ukraine. However, the administration official continued, they are "sensitive points" for Russia because they prove to the Kremlin that its strategic deterrence capabilities are becoming targets for destruction.
At the same time, media representatives asked for a comment from a Ukrainian official familiar with the case. According to him:
"Russia used these radar points to monitor the activities of the Ukrainian military, in particular, the use of aerial weapons such as drones and missiles by Kyiv."
He noted that if Russian nuclear early warning systems are blinded by Ukrainian attacks, even partially, it could harm strategic stability between Washington and Moscow.
"It should be clear to everyone that (the United States) has no intention of using nuclear weapons against Russia. But there are certainly concerns about how Russia might perceive its deterrents being targeted and its early warning systems being attacked," he summarized.
It should be noted that in recent days, Ukrainian strike UAVs attacked the Russian over-the-horizon radar station "Voronezh-DM" in the Krasnodar Territory, as well as the station "Voronezh-M" near Orsk, which is 1,800 km from the border with Ukraine.
Later, photos from a satellite showing the aftermath of an attack on an over-the-horizon radar located 1,800 km away from the border in the Russian Federation were released.
For reference:
President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that the possibility of using Western weapons on the territory of Russia is not an offensive but the protection of Ukrainians.
It should be noted that Sweden allowed Ukraine to use its weapons to attack Russia. Poland also backed Ukraine's right to employ Western arms to strike military targets on the territory of the Russian Federation.
However, the Pentagon said that American weapons are intended for use on the territory of Ukraine.
On May 28, the Prime Minister of Belgium explained during a press conference that the 30 F-16 fighter jets that Belgium has pledged to hand over to Ukraine can only be used on Ukrainian territory. The same applies to other weapons provided for in the security agreement.
In turn, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized that Ukraine's use of Western weapons against targets in Russia would not make NATO part of the conflict. The head of the Alliance has redoubled efforts to urge allies to lift restrictions on striking targets in Russia.
Until now, the US and Germany have been particularly wary of sending weapons to Ukraine capable of hitting targets inside Russia due to the risk of a broader conflict.
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Poland backs Ukraine's right to employ Western weapons to strike Russia
