President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed a decree approving the Fundamentals of State Policy of the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear deterrence.
The document states that "aggression by any state within a military coalition (block, alliance) against the Russian Federation and (or) its allies will be considered as aggression by that coalition (block, alliance)."
The decree specifies that "deterrence of aggression is ensured by the entire aggregate of military power of the Russian Federation, including nuclear weapons."
"Russia has always viewed nuclear weapons as a means of deterrence, the use of which is a last resort, forced measure," said the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov. According to him, the use of Western non-nuclear missiles by the Armed Forces of Ukraine against the Russian Federation under the new doctrine may lead to a nuclear response.
Peskov noted that "nuclear deterrence is aimed at ensuring that the potential adversary understands the inevitability of retaliation in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation and (or) its ally."
The updated doctrine retains the provision that decisions on the use of nuclear weapons will be made by the head of state.
"The President of the Russian Federation may, if necessary, inform the military-political leadership of other states and (or) international organizations about the readiness of the Russian Federation to use nuclear weapons or about the decision made regarding the use of nuclear weapons, as well as about the fact of its use," the document states.
Putin signed the decree on the new nuclear doctrine of the country on November 19, the Day of Rocket Forces and Artillery in Russia.
ATACAMS against military targets in the Russian Federation
Ukrainian military reported on Tuesday morning that they struck a logistics arsenal of Russian troops near the city of Karachev in the Bryansk region. "The destruction of ammunition depots for the army of Russian occupiers with the aim of stopping the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine will continue," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated. According to Ukrainian intelligence, this warehouse contained guided aerial bombs and munitions, including those from North Korea.
Later, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a strike with six long-range ATACMS missiles at a military facility in the Bryansk region.
"According to confirmed data, American-made operational-tactical missiles 'ATACMS' were used. As a result of the anti-missile engagement, five missiles were shot down by the combat crews of the S-400 air defense system and the Pantsir missile system, and one was damaged. Its fragments fell onto the technical territory of the military facility in the Bryansk region, causing a fire that was promptly extinguished. There were no casualties or destruction," the ministry's statement said.
Earlier, "RBK-Ukraine" citing sources speculated that this was the first strike on Russian territory with ATACMS missiles. The Z-channel "Military Informant" also did not rule out that the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out a combined attack using drones and Western ATACMS or Storm Shadow missiles.
A missile threat was declared in the Bryansk region. Local residents reported powerful explosions.
On Tuesday morning, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of 12 Ukrainian drones in the Bryansk region.
Over the weekend, American media reported, citing sources, that Joe Biden lifted the ban on Ukraine using American ballistic missiles to strike Russian territory. Immediate confirmation from the White House did not follow. On Monday, the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell clarified that Kyiv received permission from the U.S. to strike deep into Russia "up to 300 km."
On Tuesday, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols confirmed in an interview with the Brazilian publication O Globo on the sidelines of the G20 summit that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were authorized to attack targets in Russia with Western missiles.
Nichols stated that this authorization "may make Russia understand that the use of force to seize Ukrainian territory will not be successful." He also suggested that the Russian Federation might "possibly start negotiating peace" or "simply withdraw from Ukrainian territory" after this.