Putin Warns on Ukraine Getting Long-Range Weapons

MOSCOW (TDI): Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that NATO would be “at direct war” with Russia if Western nations allowed Ukraine to use long-range weapons against Russian targets.

Putin’s comments came as the top diplomats from the United States and the United Kingdom discussed potentially easing restrictions on Western weaponry for Ukraine, which has been seeking such support for over two and a half years since the beginning of Moscow’s invasion.

In an interview with state television, Putin highlighted the gravity of such a decision, suggesting it would fundamentally alter the nature of the conflict. “This would significantly change the very nature of the conflict,” Putin stated.

NATO-Russia @ War If Ukrine Gets Long Range Missile

He warned that approving the use of long-range weapons by Ukraine would imply NATO direct direct war with Russia. “It would mean that NATO countries, including the US and European nations, are at war with Russia,” Putin added.

He did not specify the potential actions Russia might take in response but suggested that such a move could lead to increased military and diplomatic tensions.

According to Putin, the decision to allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory is essentially a decision on whether NATO is directly engaged in the military conflict.

The comments came as Ukraine continues to press the West for more powerful weapons with fewer restrictions.

Russia reported on Thursday that its forces had successfully recaptured ten villages in the Kursk border region, which had been previously occupied by Ukrainian troops following a major incursion last month.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that these gains were made by the “North” group of troops over the past two days.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the Russian counter-offensive and acknowledged that it aligns with Ukrainian strategies.

“Russians have launched counter-offensive actions, which fit with our Ukrainian plan,” Zelensky said.

Russian attacks have focused on the western flank of Ukrainian positions, established after a surprise incursion into Russian territory in early August.

Pro-Moscow war bloggers and Ukrainian analysts reported on September 11 that Russian forces had begun active assaults, including the use of armored vehicles across various rivers, such as the Sejm.

According to DeepState, a Ukrainian open-source intelligence resource, Russian forces have intensified their operations, recapturing the town of Korenevo among other areas.

This information was corroborated by the Rybar channel, associated with the Russian Defense Ministry.

Also Read: US to Sanctions Iran Over Missile Supply to Russia

Major General Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Akhmat special forces involved in the Kursk operations, confirmed that Russian troops had retaken around ten settlements.

“The situation is favorable for us,” Alaudinov told TASS. “We continue to repel and defeat enemy forces, who have suffered significant casualties and are struggling to maintain their positions.”

Some Russian sources have claimed that the village of Snagost and other settlements have been restored to Russian control, though these reports have not been independently verified.

The Ukrainian side has yet to acknowledge any changes in the Kursk region.

Despite the recent Russian gains, the city of Sudzha, crucial for Ukrainian logistics in Kursk, remains unaffected. Sudzha is located approximately 40 kilometers from Snagost.

Read More: Russia Captures Town, 3 Villages in Ukraine

Ukrainian Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskiy said last week that Russia had been planning a new assault from the Kursk region before the incursion began.

Syrskiy described the incursion as a success in reducing the threat of Russian attacks and bringing the conflict onto Russian soil. “We moved the fighting to the enemy’s territory so that he could feel what we experience every day,” Syrskiy told CNN.

Since the incursion began on August 6, Kyiv claims to have seized over 1,200 square kilometers of Russian territory.

Syrskiy also mentioned that Moscow had deployed tens of thousands of troops to the region, including elite airborne units.

The operation is seen as both a strategic maneuver to improve Kyiv’s position in potential peace negotiations and a demonstration of Ukraine’s response to the invasion.