Kremlin reacts to Ukraine's intention to launch long-range strikes deep into Russian territory
Ukraine's Western partners have already approved the use of ATACMS missiles to strike deep within Russian territory.
Russian propaganda publication RIA Novosti reports that Dmitry Peskov, Putin's press secretary, stated this.
As noted, the spokesman of the head of the Kremlin is also sure that this decision is now "trying to be formalized" through the mass media.
Putin's press secretary believes that the involvement of the USA and European countries in Russia's war against Ukraine "has a direct nature; each new step increases it."
"The special military operation itself [that's how the Russians call the war – ed.] is a response to possible strikes deep into Russia," said Peskov.
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In 2014, Russia initiated its aggression towards Ukraine by seizing control of Crimea and parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This marked the start of a decade-long war. However, in 2022, Russia escalated the situation by launching a large-scale invasion in an attempt to eradicate Ukraine's independence.
Russian propaganda actively spread the thesis that Kyiv "will fall in three days," and Russian soldiers were prepared for a parade on Khreschatyk. However, the reality turned out to be different. Thanks to the heroic defense of Ukraine's armed forces, the enemy was pushed back from the Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions.
After unsuccessful attempts to seize Ukraine quickly, the Russian Federation began to promote the idea of "peace negotiations," trying to fix the occupied territories as its own.
Although Russia has enormous stockpiles of weapons and a large army, they still face significant losses. Despite engaging in full-scale war for over 2.5 years, the occupiers have yet to achieve even the slightest strategic victory, such as gaining control of the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as of September 2024.
In turn, Putin continues to distort reality, presenting Russia as a victim of aggression. He seeks support among his allies, including China and North Korea, in his speeches. North Korea is reportedly supplying Russia with missiles that are used to attack peaceful cities in Ukraine.
At the same time, on August 6, Ukraine began its operation in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. On the fifth day of the Ukrainian army's offensive deep into Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that Ukraine had forced the war onto the land of the aggressor.
On August 27, the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that since the beginning of the operation in the Kursk region of Russia, Ukraine has captured 594 enemy soldiers and controlled more than 100 settlements, or 1,294 square kilometers. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, such actions are aimed at creating a buffer zone to prevent Russian military operations against Ukraine.
Currently, Ukraine is asking its partners to allow it to strike military targets deep in Russia with long-range weapons provided by the West.
Generals, diplomats, and civil society leaders signed an open letter to US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy urging to allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russia with long-range weapons from its partners.
On September 10, US President Joe Biden hinted that the US might lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range weapons on Russian territory.