Russian authorities are using aggressive rhetoric to try to keep the United States from officially allowing Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles for limited strikes on military targets in the Kursk region. This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

On 18 November, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the US authorisation would be a “new round of tension” and would lead to a “qualitative change in US involvement in the war”. According to him, this is “adding fuel to the fire”. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin also claimed that strikes on Russian territory with Western weapons would allegedly escalate the conflict.

ISW notes that allowing Ukraine to use ATACMS would be a response to a significant escalation by Russia, which involves North Korea as an active participant in the fighting. North Korean troops are participating in the Russian invasion, which is changing the nature of the conflict.

The Institute’s analysts believe that strikes against legitimate military targets on the territory of Russia, according to international law, are a limited step and cannot be considered as an escalation.

Some Russian officials and propagandists are focusing on the lack of official confirmation from the United States in an attempt to influence Washington and prevent the implementation of this decision.

ISW emphasises that the US remains within the framework of international law, and that the alleged ATACMS strikes are a natural response to Russia’s actions, including its cooperation with North Korea.

Despite the Kremlin’s threats, allowing Ukraine to strike military targets in Russia could be a restrained but principled response to Moscow’s involvement of third parties in the war. The West continues to support Ukraine in its struggle for independence and respect for international law.