Russian Officials Issue A Dire Warning If US Missiles Are Fired At Ukraine

If the United States verifies rumors that it intends to provide sophisticated air defense missiles to Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry has warned that it would be “another aggressive step by the US” that would elicit a response from Moscow.

Following news that the US will give Kyiv Patriot surface-to-air missiles, the most sophisticated the West has yet given to help Ukraine’s military fend off Russian aerial attacks, ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed in a weekly briefing that “the US has effectively become a party” to the war in Ukraine.

Ms. Zakharova noted that increased levels of US military assistance, including the supply of such sophisticated weapons, “would mean even broader involvement of military personnel in the hostilities and could entail possible consequences”.

She didn’t say what the repercussions might be. In response to an urgent request from Ukrainian leaders for more powerful weapons to shoot down incoming Russian missiles that have severely damaged much of their country’s vital infrastructure, US officials said on Tuesday that Washington was ready to approve sending a Patriot missile battery to Ukraine.

Soon, a formal announcement is anticipated.

It can take up to 90 soldiers to operate and maintain a Patriot battery, and for months the US was hesitant to supply the sophisticated system because President Joe Biden’s administration opposed deploying troops into Ukraine to do so.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, which is presided over by President Vladimir Putin, issued a warning before news of the delivery of Patriot systems even broke. He said that if Patriots enter Ukraine “along with Nato personnel, they will immediately become a legitimate target for our armed forces”.

When asked on Wednesday if the Kremlin supports that threat, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded in the affirmative. However, he added that he would hold off on making any further comments until the US formally announces the Patriot delivery to Ukraine.

When asked on Wednesday if the Kremlin supports that threat, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded in the affirmative. However, he added that he would hold off on making any further comments until the US formally announces the Patriot delivery to Ukraine.

Patriot missiles have been under discussion for some time, according to White House and Pentagon officials, and equipping Ukraine with more air defenses is a top priority.

According to officials, this aspect became more important as winter approached and the Russian shelling of facilities used by civilians grew.

According to Ukraine’s electricity supplier, the country’s energy system is experiencing a “severe shortfall of electricity,” and emergency shutdowns have been implemented in some locations due to the country’s high temperatures.