Russia Says to Thwart Ukrainian Cross-Border Incursion, Tension Escalates Over Potential Long-Range Missile Strikes

Russian authorities reported on Sunday that they had repelled an attempted incursion by Ukrainian forces into the Bryansk region, a border area that has seen repeated cross-border attacks in recent months, The Associated Press reports.

This incident comes amidst escalating tensions over the potential use of long-range Western missiles by Ukraine, with Russia vowing a strong response.

Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz stated that an “armed group” had attempted to breach the border, without specifying whether Ukrainian soldiers were involved. Russian military forces reportedly quelled the incursion and the situation is said to be “stable and under control.”

The attempted incursion follows a series of similar incidents, including a Ukrainian assault on the Kursk region in August, which marked the largest attack on Russian soil since World War II. Reports suggest that Moscow may be considering the deployment of North Korean troops to reinforce their efforts, a move that could further escalate the conflict and have far-reaching geopolitical consequences.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning regarding the potential use of Western-supplied long-range missiles by Ukraine to target Russian territory. Putin stated that Moscow is developing plans to respond to such attacks, which he views as a major escalation. He further warned that any attack using these missiles would be considered a direct attack on Russia, potentially triggering a direct military confrontation with NATO.

To underscore the seriousness of the threat, Putin announced a revised Russian nuclear doctrine. This revised doctrine considers a conventional attack on Russia by a non-nuclear nation with support from a nuclear power to be a joint attack on Russia, specifically targeting the US and its allies. The document also outlines the possibility of nuclear retaliation in response to a massive aerial attack, further raising the stakes of the conflict.

While Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly pushed for the approval of long-range weapons to hit military targets deep inside Russia as a means to encourage peace negotiations, US officials have countered that such weapons are limited in number and that Ukraine is already utilizing its own long-range drones to strike targets within Russia.