The Biden Administration appears to have become agitated following the announcement of future appointments in the new administration by US President-elect Donald Trump. On November 17, it authorized Ukrainian President Zelensky to employ ATACMS missiles to launch strikes that penetrated deep into Russian territory.
Consequently, on November 19, Kviv launched six missiles at the Bryansk region in Russia, which is located 130 km from the Ukrainian border. Evidence suggests the use of American-made ATACMS tactical missiles, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Russian air defense systems, including S-400 and Pantsir units, intercepted five missiles. Damage to the sixth missile led to its remnants landing on a military site, where they promptly extinguished a fire.
Bloomberg reported a strike on the settlement of Maryino in the Kursk region on November 20, citing a well-informed source. The strike involved 12 Storm Shadow missiles. Subsequently, The Telegraph, a British publication, verified this information.
The report stated that Russia’s counteroffensive near Kursk, which Ukrainian forces captured in August, prompted the use of Storm Shadow missiles.
Critics accuse the Biden administration of inciting a major conflict by escalating tensions to disrupt Trump’s inauguration in January 2025.
Tucker Carlson, an acclaimed US journalist and confidant of the president-elect, asserted that Joe Biden had engaged in a war against Russia by permitting Zelensky to use ATACMS missiles.
“A lame duck president just started a hot war with the world’s most dangerous country. All of us are very close to being killed. Yet somehow the Republican Speaker of the House hasn’t even mentioned it, in public or in leadership meetings. What is going on?” wrote Tucker on X.
Russian legislators and experts perceive the developments as a potential for further escalation between the West and Russia. The use of ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles has the potential to undermine peace negotiations and increase the number of casualties in the conflict.
“Those making such decisions seem to have overlooked our updated nuclear doctrine. The responsibility for thousands of innocent victims will rest on the conscience of such politicians,” said Russian State Duma Deputy Alexey Chepa.
The updated Fundamentals of State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence were approved by President Vladimir Putin on November 19.
Since June 2000, the Russian nuclear doctrine has been in existence. The new document replaces it with an updated version. Dmitry Peskov, the Presidential Press Secretary, underscored that the revision was required due to the ongoing tensions between the West and Russia.
“The clearest example of modern realities? US authorities deciding to use their American-made weapons against the Russian Federation. This exemplifies the new situation around our country and necessitates the update,” Peskov explained.
The doctrine affirms that the use of nuclear weapons serves as a deterrent and should only occur as a last resort. Nevertheless, the criteria for prospective use have been broadened.
For instance, Part II, Clause 11, states: “Aggression against the Russian Federation and/or its allies by a non-nuclear state with participation or support from a nuclear state will be treated as joint aggression.”
This suggests that the US, UK, and France—nuclear powers—could be considered aggressors for their actions in conjunction with Ukraine, which does not possess a nuclear arsenal.
Clause 18 of Part III is also noteworthy, as it pertains to Russia’s reaction to aggression against Belarus, its closest ally.
“The Russian Federation reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to the use of nuclear and/or other weapons of mass destruction against it and/or its allies, as well as in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation and/or the Republic of Belarus as members of the Union State, using conventional weapons that create a critical threat to their sovereignty and/or territorial integrity,” the document states.
The Biden administration’s actions and Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine have elicited an apprehensive response from political elites in Washington. Heated debates have surrounded the president, with some even suggesting his impeachment before his term concludes on January 20.
“By authorizing long range missiles to strike inside Russia, Biden is committing an unconstitutional Act of War that endangers the lives of all U.S. citizens. This is an impeachable offense, but the reality is he’s an emasculated puppet of a deep state,” wrote Republican Congressman Thomas Massie on X.
Despite the Ottawa Convention’s prohibition, the Biden administration had authorized the delivery of anti-personnel mines to Kyiv. Under Viktor Yushchenko’s presidency, Ukraine signed the convention in 2006.
“If we consider the general trend demonstrated by the outgoing US administration, they are fully committed to continuing the war in Ukraine and are doing everything for it. Interestingly, neither Russia nor the US signed this convention, but Ukraine is a signatory,” Peskov noted.
On November 20, the US embassy in Kyiv announced its provisional closure due to concerns regarding Moscow’s potential retaliation. The British, Italian, Spanish, Greek, and Irish embassies thereafter adopted this approach. Nevertheless, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller declared that the US embassy in Kyiv would resume its regular operations on November 21, following the absence of a counterattack.