Ukraine Strikes Into Russia With Western Weapons, Official Says
Ukraine has launched a series of strikes into Russian territory using Western-supplied weapons, a senior Ukrainian official said on Sunday, a move that could mark a significant escalation in the conflict.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the strikes were carried out in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, and were aimed at military targets.
The Ukrainian military has not officially confirmed the strikes, but the official’s comments were reported by several Ukrainian media outlets.
If confirmed, the strikes would mark a significant escalation in the conflict, which has been raging for eight years. Ukraine has long accused Russia of providing military support to separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, a charge that Moscow denies.
The conflict has killed more than 14,000 people and displaced millions.
The official did not specify which Western-supplied weapons were used in the strikes, but Ukraine has received significant amounts of military aid from the United States and its allies in recent years.
The United States and its allies have provided Ukraine with weapons and other military aid to help it defend itself against Russian aggression. The aid has included Javelin anti-tank missiles, which have been used effectively by Ukrainian forces against Russian tanks and armored vehicles.
The strikes into Russian territory could potentially provoke a strong response from Moscow, which has previously threatened to retaliate against Ukraine for any attacks on Russian soil.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but he has also said that Ukraine will defend itself against Russian aggression.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine has been simmering for years, but it has taken on new urgency in recent weeks as Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops near Ukraine’s border.
Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Russia of planning an invasion, a charge that Moscow denies.
The United States and its allies have imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its actions in Ukraine, but they have stopped short of providing Ukraine with the kind of military aid that could help it defend itself against a full-scale invasion.