Russia Threatens Retaliation Over Alleged Ukrainian ATACMS Strike on Belgorod
Putin Warns of Retaliation as Trump Voices Concern Over ATACMS Escalation
Russia has vowed to retaliate after accusing Ukraine of launching US-made ATACMS missiles at its Belgorod region, a move that Moscow claims escalates the ongoing conflict. The Russian Ministry of Defence stated on January 3 that Ukraine attempted a missile strike on Belgorod using the long-range ATACMS weapons, which were authorized by US President Joe Biden for Ukrainian use last year. Moscow condemned the use of these weapons, calling it an escalation of the war that has been ongoing for nearly three years.
“These actions by the Kyiv regime, supported by Western backers, will be met with retaliation,” the Russian defence ministry said, adding that all the missiles had been intercepted by air defences. The ministry also reported shooting down eight ATACMS missiles but did not specify the exact timing or location of the interception.
This incident comes amid heightened tensions as both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of targeting civilians in their ongoing strikes. On the same day, a Russian airstrike on a village in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region killed a 74-year-old man, according to local authorities.
The use of ATACMS missiles is seen as a significant step, with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin having previously warned of severe retaliation if Ukraine continued using long-range Western weapons against Russian territory. In response to the missile exchange, US President-elect Donald Trump also expressed concern, stating that the escalation of the conflict with such weapons was highly problematic.
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In the east, Russia claimed to have captured the Ukrainian village of Nadiia in the Lugansk region, one of the few remaining territories under Ukrainian control in that area. Moscow’s forces have reportedly advanced by nearly 4,000 square kilometers (1,540 square miles) in 2024, capitalizing on Ukraine’s ongoing military manpower shortages and exhaustion.
As both sides brace for further confrontations, the international community remains on edge, fearing that the continued escalation could have devastating consequences for both nations and beyond.
