Putin lowers N-threshold

Ukraine fires US made missiles at Russia for first time

Russia on Tuesday claimed that Ukraine had fired six US-supplied long-range missiles at a military facility in the Bryansk border region, making it the first such attack since Washington authorized such strikes. Moscow has warned that the use of Western weapons to target Russian territory would make the United States a direct participant in the conflict and vowed an "appropriate and palpable response."

The Russian defense ministry stated that five of the missiles were intercepted by its air defenses, while fragments from a sixth missile fell on an unspecified military facility, causing a small fire. The ministry confirmed there were no casualties or damage.

The attack came even as Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a revised nuclear doctrine declaring that a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on his country.