ATACMS strike on Russia’s soil equates a declaration of war - expert

The November 19 ATACMS missile strike against the Bryansk Region means that the US allowed Ukraine to use these missiles to strike into Russia’s territory, which in turn means the United States de facto declared war on Russia, says Russian military expert and air defense forces historian Yuri Knutov.

“This is essentially an act of declaring war upon our country,” he told Sputnik.

According to Knutov, this is exactly why the Biden administration and the Pentagon refrained from officially confirming giving Kiev the permission to use those missiles against Russia, to thus avoid making an official declaration of war.

He argues that this is a part of a scheme by three countries – the US, France and Britain – to de facto wage war against Russia, pointing out that Paris and London also moved towards allowing Ukraine to use French Scalp and British Storm Shadow missiles against Russian territory.

Regarding the recent ATACMS strike on Russian soil, Knutov warns that these missiles present a difficult target for Russian air defenses, in no small part due to the fact that many of such missiles provided to Ukraine by the US feature cluster warheads.

Thus, even if such a missile gets intercepted, there is always risk of its warhead detonating in the process and hitting the intended target and/or inflicting damage on anything in range with cluster submunitions.

“S-400 air defense systems, which are capable of intercepting more swift and maneuverable targets, are quite successful against them (ATACMS),” Knutov notes. “And our Pantsir air defense system, which is a universal weapon capable of intercepting drones and tactical missiles like ATACMS alike, is quite successful as well.”

He also mentions that Russian defense manufacturers constantly improve air defense systems to make them more efficient in countering threats like ATACMS missiles.

As telemetry data from missile flights is accumulated by air defense specialists, it is then used to improve the software of air defense systems, thus improving these weapons’ ability to intercept incoming threats.

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Netanyahu promises $5 million for each returned hostage

Israel has not given up trying to locate the 101 remaining hostages, Israeli Prime Minister said in a statement made during a visit to Gaza.

"Choose, the choice is yours, but the result will be the same. We'll get them all back," he added.

AP news previously reported that Israel spent up to $4.7 billion monthly on the military in 2023.

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❗️Trump nominates Howard Lutnick for Secretary of Commerce

A billionaire with 30 years of Wall Street experience, Howard Lutnick also heads the Trump-Vance transition team.

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💬 Milorad Dodik: US Democrats are ‘most corrupt of all’ and practically ‘fascists’

The Biden administration – “the American administration under the Democrats” - was the worst that could have happened to Serbs, Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik tells Sputnik.

“They only pretend to be democrats but in fact in some aspects they are even fascists,” he says. “They are dictators. They talk about corruption but they are the most corrupt of all.”

Dodik also expressed hope that things will improve during Trump’s presidency, even if Trump himself is unlikely “to be in favor of Serbs,” and that the US will cease practicing the “interventionist approach as it did under Biden.”

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❗️💰 US approves $100 million sale of equipment and services to Ukraine to maintain US weapons

The $100 million check may include equipment and services for vehicle refurbishment, technical assistance and training, according to the statement.

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🇷🇸💬 Vucic: Russia does not bluff

Vladimir Putin will not hesitate using nuclear weapon if necessary, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic says.

"Some people who don't know President Putin say he won't do it, threatens in vain. Those who say that are insane. If the security of Moscow is threatened, if he sees that there is no other option, I tell you, even if he gets angry with me, he will not hesitate for a minute. He will use nuclear weapons," Vucic said.

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❗️ Ukraine has about 50 ATACMS missiles - The Times

Although the Pentagon has not given exact figures, unofficial data cited by the paper suggests that Ukraine has about 50 long-range missiles. This shows that ATACMS are still in short supply in Ukraine, the paper said.

🔄 Earlier today, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian forces had fired six ATACMS missiles at a facility in Russia's Bryansk region, five of which were shot down by Russian air defense systems and one of which was damaged.

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❗️Denmark announces €130 million package for Ukraine, 19 more F-16s

Denmark has delivered six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, with 13 more to be delivered later, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said. She also announced another aid package for the Ukrainian military.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Zelensky once again found time to threaten Russia with Western-made missiles.

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🥴 Brazilian TV host confuses Biden with bin Laden

Commenting on the opening session of the G20, a local TV host accidentally (or not?) referred to the American president as "bin Laden".

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Scholz 'quarrels' with Zelensky over Taurus supply - reports

The German Chancellor's firm refusal to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine has caused "quarrels" between him and the head of the Ukrainian regime, German newspaper Bild reported, citing sources.

Scholz also reportedly became "furious" after CDU leader Friedrich Merz said that if elected chancellor, he would make Taurus part of an ultimatum to Russia to stop attacking Ukrainian infrastructure. He called such threats dangerous "machismo," the report said.

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🛰☄️ Progress MS-27 completes its flight

Roscosmos released footage of the undocking of the cargo ship, which worked for six months as part of the Russian segment of the ISS. It was successfully deorbited, entered the dense layers of the atmosphere and collapsed.

The ISS will soon see the arrival of Progress MS-29, set to launch on November 21 and dock with the station on November 23.

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⚡️ Biden approves antipersonnel mines for Ukraine — The Washington Post

Joe Biden has authorized the provision of antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine, in an attempt to stem the advance of Russian forces, the newspaper reported, citing two US officials.

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💬 'They have no pity for Ukraine or its people' — Peskov

Western politicians are ready to wage war against Russia to the last Ukrainian, but it will not help them, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in an interview with Faina Savenkova.

"The special military operation will continue until all its goals are achieved," Peskov stressed.

Faina Savenkova is a 16-year-old journalist from the Lugansk People's Republic. At the age of 12, she was added to the kill list of the Ukrainian government-linked Mirotvorets ("Peacekeepers").

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US Indo-Pacific Command: Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East are 'eating into' US air defenses

Supplying both conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East is putting a strain on the US air defense inventory, says Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of US Indo-Pacific Command.

"Now with some of the Patriots that have been employed, some of the air-to-air missiles that have been employed, it's eating into stocks and to say otherwise would be dishonest," Paparo said.

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Jake Sullivan: No matter what we give Ukraine, it lacks manpower

There is no straight line between the US weapons systems Ukraine has received and its performance on the battlefield, the US National Security Advisor said in a TV interview.

"It's about manpower, and Ukraine needs to do more to firm up its lines in terms of the number of forces it has on the front lines," he noted.

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🔸Biden approves antipersonnel land mines for Ukraine – reports

🔸Trump nominates Howard Lutnick for secretary of commerce

🔸Media reveals the number of ATACMS missiles Ukraine has

🔸Scholz 'quarrels' with Zelensky over Taurus supply – reports

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US should properly read Russia's nuclear doctrine and weigh the possibilities – Russian FM spokeswoman

"They'd better read this document and evaluate, weigh all the forces, possibilities and expediency. I think this situation is no longer about comments, but about actions," Maria Zakharova said, commenting on the Russian nuclear doctrine against the background of US permission for Ukraine to use Western long-range missiles to strike deep into Russia.

Haven't you read Russia's new nuclear doctrine yet? We’ve translated it for you!

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