Russia-Ukraine war: In a significant escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war, Ukraine, for the first time, attacked a Russian military airfield with the US-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). The target of the Khalino Ukraine-fired ATACMS was a Russian airfield named Khalino. For those unversed, Khalino Airfield has been a key site for initial Russian military operations. The site was first targeted by Ukraine in December 2022 in a drone attack when it used to serve as a key base for the Russian Aerospace Forces.
The Khalino airfield, which is approximately 60 miles away from the Russian border, is the one under discussion. Social media was abuzz with videos showing substantial blasts caused by submunitions from what is believed to be the ATACMS cluster variant, which seems to have hit the airfield.
Expected Response from Russia
The Ukrainian forces, assisted by American-supplied missiles, have tactically struck selected sites. This strategic action is part of Ukraine’s broader plan to hold onto territories they wrestled control of during their August escalation. Ukraine had been lobbying for permission to utilize long-range weaponry like the ATACMS for some time to counteract Russia’s aerial attacks in diverse regions, including Donetsk and Kharkiv.
Subsequent updates indicated that Russian planes were repositioned beyond the range of ATACMS missiles. The presence of any aircraft at the airbase amidst the recent assault, however, remains a matter of uncertainty. Talking about the Russian response, the attack has shocked Moscow and is expected to attract a serious response.
Russia‘s Putin says NATO is an anachronism
Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin described NATO as a “blatant anachronism” which was needed by the United States in order to dominate its zone of influence. Putin, setting out his world view in a speech to a conference of Russia experts, said the alliance was subject to “the diktat of the older brother”, meaning the US.
He contrasted that with the BRICS group of countries, which held a summit in Russia last month and which Putin held out as an example of constructive cooperation.
“There is only one block in the world today – welded together by arm-twisting obligation, (OVER WIDE SHOT) robust ideological dogmas and cliches. (OVER PARTICIPANT OF SESSION LISTENING) It is North Atlantic Treaty Organization which without stopping its expansion to the East of Europe tries to extend (OVER WIDE SHOT) its approaches to other parts of the world, breaking (at the same time) its own statutes. It is a blatant anachronism”, the Russian President said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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