New Ukrainian Drone Within Moscow's Range
US: "Ukraine Must Not Be Allowed to Attack Beyond Borders"
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Russian mainland, located hundreds of kilometers away from the border area with Ukraine, has suffered three drone attacks over two days. Russian President Vladimir Putin immediately convened the National Security Council to devise countermeasures, raising concerns about the possibility of further escalation.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government has warned Ukraine to refrain from attacking the Russian mainland and emphasized that the weapons provided to Ukraine are strictly for defensive purposes. The U.S. and Western countries are concerned that Ukraine's continued attacks on Russian territory could potentially provoke escalation and prolong the war.
Putin Urgently Convenes National Security Council... Moscow Also Within Range
According to TASS news agency on the 6th (local time), President Putin convened the National Security Council to ensure domestic security. Although the specific topics and outcomes of the meeting were not disclosed, it is expected that countermeasures against the drone attacks on military facilities within Russian territory, which occurred three times in two days, were discussed. The Kremlin emphasized in a statement, "We are taking all necessary measures to ensure security against terrorist attacks on Russian territory."
Earlier that day, a drone attack targeted an airfield in the Kursk region of Russia, near the border with Ukraine, causing a fire in a fuel tank. The previous day, two military airfields in Ryazan and Saratov regions were also hit by drone attacks, resulting in three soldiers killed and four injured. The Russian Ministry of Defense accused Ukraine of modifying former Soviet drones to carry out the attacks.
Notably, Ryazan and Saratov regions are rear areas located approximately 480 km and 720 km away from the border with Ukraine, respectively, which reportedly shocked the Russian public. Concerns have arisen that the capital Moscow and its metropolitan area could also become targets, leading to growing criticism of the Russian government's inadequate response measures.
Considering the range of the new drones developed by Ukraine, there is analysis that strikes on the Moscow area are possible. According to CNN, Ukrainian defense company Ukroboronprom announced at the end of last month that it had completed the development and test flights of a new long-range kamikaze drone. This drone can carry a 75 kg warhead and fly up to 1,000 km.
The distance from Shostka in northern Ukraine to Moscow is only about 600 km. There are concerns that the entire capital and metropolitan area could become targets.
U.S.: "Ukraine Must Not Strike Russian Mainland... Weapons Provided Are Defensive"
The U.S. government stated that it does not permit Ukraine to attack the Russian mainland across the border and warned Ukraine to refrain from such attacks.
Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said at a briefing, "We neither permit nor encourage Ukraine to conduct attacks beyond its borders," and emphasized, "We have made it clear that the weapons provided to Ukraine by the U.S. are for defensive purposes."
While the U.S. government has not confirmed that Ukraine was responsible for the drone attacks on Russian territory, it clearly stated that Ukraine should not provoke escalation by attacking the Russian mainland.
Ukraine has not officially acknowledged its involvement in the drone attacks on Russian territory but has indirectly hinted at the possibility of its drones being involved, sparking controversy. Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian presidential office, tweeted, "The Earth is round," adding, "If something is launched into another country's airspace, unidentified objects will soon return to the launch site."
The U.S. and Western countries are concerned that if Ukraine continues drone attacks on Russian territory, Russia may escalate the conflict or seriously resort to nuclear threats. The U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated, "With Ukraine's confirmed long-range drone strike capability, Moscow can no longer be considered a safe area," and predicted, "As internal public opinion worsens regarding the Russian military and government's operations and responses, the Russian military may carry out stronger retaliatory actions."
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