Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (2024)

Table of Contents
Live Reporting Russia vows 'appropriate response' if Ukraine uses US long-range missilespublished at 21:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November21:15 GMT 18 November Want more on this story? The BBC has you coveredpublished at 21:00 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November21:00 GMT 18 November Chemical weapons watchdog finds evidence of banned substance in Ukrainian soilpublished at 20:36 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November20:36 GMT 18 November In maps: The scale of the conflictpublished at 20:13 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November20:13 GMT 18 November Putin's previous remarks set tone for Russian responsepublished at 19:34 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November19:34 GMT 18 November State Department declines to confirm change in US missile guidelinespublished at 19:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November19:07 GMT 18 November German chancellor defends phone call with Putinpublished at 18:59 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November18:59 GMT 18 November Biden is 'sabotaging' Trump's peace efforts, says former Trump advisorpublished at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November18:46 GMT 18 November Listen: Biden's last effort to help Ukraine?published at 18:24 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November18:24 GMT 18 November The latest from Russia and Ukraine following President Biden's missile decisionpublished at 18:09 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November18:09 GMT 18 November US decision is 'desperate attack', Hungarian foreign minister sayspublished at 17:40 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November17:40 GMT 18 November Russia vows response if Ukraine uses long-range missiles to strike its territorypublished at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November17:12 GMT 18 NovemberBreaking Biden's missile authorisation is most decisive moment in this war - Polish presidentpublished at 16:58 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November16:58 GMT 18 November In Germany, Scholz tries to strike middle groundpublished at 16:44 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November16:44 GMT 18 November EU imposes fresh sanctions on Iran - but do they work?published at 16:30 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November16:30 GMT 18 November UK announces new sanctions on Iran for aiding Russiapublished at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November16:23 GMT 18 November What are Storm Shadow missiles?published at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November16:14 GMT 18 November Aftermath of air strike on Odesa - in picturespublished at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November16:00 GMT 18 November Number of injured in Odesa strike rises to 47published at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November15:53 GMT 18 November Biden might want to strengthen Kyiv's hand before Trump takes officepublished at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November15:46 GMT 18 November References

Live Reporting

Edited by Matt Spivey and Jamie Whitehead

  1. Russia vows 'appropriate response' if Ukraine uses US long-range missilespublished at 21:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    21:15 GMT 18 November

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (1)Image source, EPA

    Before we go, we've rounded up some key details from our reporting today to give you a full picture of the conflict as it stands:

    • Biden told world leaders at the G20 summit, in Brazil, that his administration "strongly supportsUkraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity", in the aftermath of his reported authorisation of Ukraine's use of US long-range missiles
    • Russia has promised an "appropriate" response if Ukraine does choose to use long-range missiles to strike its territory. United Russia MP Maria Butina said the US is "actually pushing the world to a very dangerous red line"
    • Not all nations are on board with Biden: Hungary, Slovakia and Italy have voiced their opposition to the decision
    • Other Western powers have yet to follow Washington's lead. France and the UK have maintained that Storm Shadow missiles supplied by them can only be used on targets in Ukraine
    • A Russian missile strike on an apartment building in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa killed at least 10 people and injured 47 others, according to local authorities. In Sumy, a city in Ukraine's northwest, 11 people were killed and 63 injured in a Russian missile strike on a residential area

    We're now ending our live coverage, there is more on this story here and you can find more content from across the BBC in our post below.

  2. Want more on this story? The BBC has you coveredpublished at 21:00 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    21:00 GMT 18 November

    We're going to be closing out live coverage soon, but there's plenty more to read elsewhere for more insight on what's happened today:

    • Biden's effort to help Ukraine: Reports say that US President Biden has allowed Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike Russia, the BBC looked into how these missiles could affect the war
    • Anger among Trump allies:For some analysis, we have this piece on how the outgoing president's decision has stirred up incoming president Donald Trump's allies
    • North Korean troops in Ukraine: After the US and Ukraine revealed North Korean troops have been engaged in combat with Ukrainian soldiers, this is what we know about their involvement
  3. Chemical weapons watchdog finds evidence of banned substance in Ukrainian soilpublished at 20:36 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    20:36 GMT 18 November

    Analysis conducted by an international chemical weapons watchdoghas found banned CS riot gas in samples provided by Ukraine.

    In a statement, the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibitionof Chemical Weapons says: "The results of the analyses of these samplesconducted by two OPCW designated laboratories... indicate that both a grenadeand a soil sample... contained the riot control agent known as CS".

    CS riot gas - commonly known as teargas – is banned for use inwarfare under the Geneva Protocol, but is often deployed as a riot controlmeasure.

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (2)Image source, Reuters

  4. In maps: The scale of the conflictpublished at 20:13 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    20:13 GMT 18 November

    As Biden's authorisation of Ukraine's use of US long-range missiles inside Russia has caused an international reaction, the BBC's Visual Journalism team has looked at the scale of the conflict as it stands nearly three years into the war.

    Fighting has raged in Ukraine since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russian forces have slowly expanded the amount of territory they control over the last year, mostly in the east of Ukraine, but Ukrainian forces have made those advances as slow and difficult as possible and even staged a counter-offensive into Russian territory.

    Here is a recap of recent significant events and the situation in Ukraine.

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (3)

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (4)

  5. Putin's previous remarks set tone for Russian responsepublished at 19:34 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    19:34 GMT 18 November

    Grigor Atanesian
    BBC News Russian

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (5)Image source, EPA

    On Monday, Russian officials and pro-government pundits called the reported change in the US position reckless and escalatory.

    While threatening Ukraine and the West with retribution, they also sought to downplay the significance of the move, saying Russian air defences were well-trained to destroy Western missiles.

    Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is yet to comment on the US's reported decision on long-range missile use. However, his previous remarks set the tone for the Russian response.

    Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Putin had previously equated potential strikes on the Russian territory with the involvement of the US and Nato in the conflict.

    Duma (Parliament) speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said Moscow could now use “new weapon systems that had not yet been used by Russia to strike Ukraine” - predicting this will result in further escalation.

    Alexander Kots, a pro-war influencer, wrote in a piece for the Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid, external, “will the new authorisation help Kyiv defeat Russia? Of course not.”

    As it often happens in Russia, this range of opinion reflects a level of uncertainty about the official response before Mr Putin gives his verdict.

  6. State Department declines to confirm change in US missile guidelinespublished at 19:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    19:07 GMT 18 November

    Bernd Debusmann Jr
    Reporting from the State Department

    I'm currently at the State Department briefing in Washington DC, where spokesman Matt Miller has declined to confirm reports that the US has given a green light for Ukraine to use US-supplied missiles to strike targets inside Russia.

    While Miller told reporters that the US has long said it would help Ukraine "adjust" its capabilities based on wartime conditions in Ukraine.

    As we've so far seen with other US officials - who have similarly declined to comment about the missiles - Miller pointed to Russia's "aggression" in Ukraine as the primary issue, rather than any US policy shift.

    Miller was asked about how typical - or atypical - it would be for a presidential administration to take such a significant policy decision in its final months, Miller said that Biden was "elected to a four year-term, not a term of three years and 10 months."

    "We will use every day of our term to pursue policy interests that we believe are in the interests of the American people," he said. "If the incoming administration wants to take a different view, that is, of course, their right to do so."

    "There is no one who thinks for for the first two months of the next term they're supposed to continue to carry out the decisions by this president. That's now how presidential terms work," he said. "There's one president at a time. When the next president takes office, he can make his own decisions."

  7. German chancellor defends phone call with Putinpublished at 18:59 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    18:59 GMT 18 November

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (6)Image source, Reuters

    German Chancellor Olaf Sholz has defended his decision to call RussianPresident Vladimir Putin on Friday, telling reporters " it was and stillis the right thing to do".

    Speaking to reporters at the G20 summit in Brazil, Scholz sayshe called Putin "because this must be made clear to him: He has a responsibility.He must end the war..."

    Discussions at leadership level must take place for this tohappen, he adds.

    He also says he has "explained very clearly" why hethinks its right to not send Taurus missiles to Ukraine, adding that themissiles could only be used if "responsibility for targeting" wasshared, and it is not something he can "take responsibility for".

    He says: "We have aclear understanding that the powerful weapons we have supplied so far, thelong-range artillery, the rocket launchers, cannot be used to penetrate deepinto the Russian hinterland."

  8. Biden is 'sabotaging' Trump's peace efforts, says former Trump advisorpublished at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    18:46 GMT 18 November

    The chief of staff of the National Security Council under DonaldTrump's last presidency, Fred Fleitz, says President Biden is"sabotaging" Trump's plan to end the war by permitting the use oflong-range missiles in Russia.

    "We know Trump wants a quick ceasefire and peace talks. Butthis is going to escalate the conflict and infuriate the Russians," Fleitztells BBC Radio 4's PM programme.

    Citing Russia's warning that this use ofmissiles would represent Nato's "direct participation" in thewar, Fleitz says: "I can only conclude Biden is trying tosabotage Trump's peace efforts because he does not want the negotiated peacethat Trump is pushing for."

    He says Biden is "sticking to his idyllic version" ofremoving all Russian troops from Ukraine and holding President Putinaccountable.

    Asked about Trump's plans, Fleitz says Trump is "giving alot of thought" to how he can end the war – “maybe before he is inaugurated”in January.

  9. Listen: Biden's last effort to help Ukraine?published at 18:24 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    18:24 GMT 18 November

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (7)

    Is President Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to uselong-range missiles to strike Russia a last-ditch effort to help before DonaldTrump takes over?

    A new Americast Q&A includes US focused analysis of whyBiden has approved missile use in Russia.

    Listen on BBC Sounds, or wherever you get your podcasts.

  10. The latest from Russia and Ukraine following President Biden's missile decisionpublished at 18:09 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    18:09 GMT 18 November

    As we've been reporting,US President Joe Biden has given the green light for Ukraine to use long-rangemissiles supplied by the US to strike Russia, US officials say.

    While Ukraine has beenresponding to fresh Russian strikes in the country, here’s the latest:

    • Russia has vowed its response will be “appropriate” if Ukraine uses long-range missiles to strike its territory, a foreign ministry spokesperson said earlier
    • At the G20 summit in Rio, President Biden said that the US government "strongly supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity", without explicitly referring to long-range missiles
    • World leaders have continued to react. Hungary’s foreign minister and the Slovakian prime minister both condemned the US's decision and Italy also disagreed. France and the UK have not changed their stance – the Strom Shadow missiles they sent to Kyiv can only be fired at targets inside Ukraine
    • Ukraine's air force say a missile shot down by its air defence systems hit Odesa in the south of the country. It killed at least ten people and injured 47 others
    • In Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, 11 people have been killed and 63 injured after a Russian missile struck a residential neighbourhood
    • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited troops in Pokrovsk, a town on the front line of the conflict and awarded army personnel there
  11. US decision is 'desperate attack', Hungarian foreign minister sayspublished at 17:40 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    17:40 GMT 18 November

    Nick Thorpe
    Reporting from Budapest

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (8)Image source, Getty Images

    The Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has condemned thedecision of the US government to permit the use of long-range weapons againstmilitary targets in mainland Russia as "the last desperate attack ofpro-war forces against the new reality".

    Szijjarto posted his remarks on Facebook, ahead of today’smeeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

    "In their final desperation, the pro-war forces do not evenseem to be shying away from the worst, that is, from expanding the war inUkraine to a worldwide scale," he continued.

    On Saturday in Paris, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s governingFidesz party took part in turning the 84 MEP-strong "Patriots forEurope" parliamentary group in the European Parliament, into a new party.

  12. Russia vows response if Ukraine uses long-range missiles to strike its territorypublished at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    17:12 GMT 18 NovemberBreaking

    In a response to Joe Biden's reported decision to give Ukraine permission to fire ATACM missiles into Russia, a Russian foreign ministry spokesperson warns of an "appropriate response" if such missiles are fired into Russian territory.

    "Kyiv's use of long-range missiles to attack our territory would represent the direct involvement of the United States and its satellites in hostilities against Russia, as well as a radical change in the essence and nature of the conflict," a statement reads.

    "Russia's response in such a case will be appropriate and tangible," it adds.

  13. Biden's missile authorisation is most decisive moment in this war - Polish presidentpublished at 16:58 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    16:58 GMT 18 November

    Adam Easton
    Warsaw Correspondent

    Polish president Andrzej Duda has said President Biden'sreported authorisation to allow Ukraine to use American long-range missiles tostrike targets deep inside Russia could be "decisive".

    "President Biden's decision was very much needed, and itwas good that it was revealed… It is very important, maybe even a decisivemoment in this war," Duda said.

    "In fact, this is purely and only defensive, allowingUkraine to more effectively defend itself from Russian aggression," headded.

    Duda, like Prime Mnister Donald Tusk did on Sunday, criticisedGerman chancellor Olaf Scholz for calling Vladimir Putin and noted the Germanmedia had speculated Berlin may be seeking ways to re-establish energy supplycontracts with Moscow.

  14. In Germany, Scholz tries to strike middle groundpublished at 16:44 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    16:44 GMT 18 November

    Damien McGuinness
    Berlin correspondent

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (9)Image source, Reuters

    Arming Ukraine has been a hugely divisive political topic from the moment Russia launched its full invasion. Talk shows and parliamentary debates wrangle over each new type of German tank or missile sent, with politicians accusing each other of either escalation or appeasement.

    Olaf Scholz tries to strike the middle ground, where most German voters seem to be: strong support for Ukraine, combined with an attempt to prevent the war spiralling out of control.

    Scholz believes supplying the long-range Taurus cruise missile system could drag Germany into the war. His many critics say this fine distinction between individual weapons systems is illogical, especially since Germany is the largest donor of military aid after the US and is already seen as an aggressor by Putin.

    But Scholz’s position may have more to do with domestic politics than military logic. He believes reticent non-bellicose rhetoric helps him keep German voters onside.

    Scholz, who is struggling in the polls, now faces a snap election in February, and so is likely to double down. In previous campaigns he has portrayed himself as a “peace chancellor”, tapping into his centre-left party’s pacifist heritage.

    Over the weekend, he was hugely criticised in Germany for his call to Putin, with critics accusing him of cynically using the issue for domestic political gain by trying to appear like a peacemaker.

    But German politics are in flux. The opposition conservatives, who currently have a strong poll lead, want even more military support for Ukraine not less. So Germany’s stance on Taurus may yet change.

  15. EU imposes fresh sanctions on Iran - but do they work?published at 16:30 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    16:30 GMT 18 November

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (10)Image source, Getty Images

    The European Union (EU) has announced fresh sanctions for Iran, as they say it continues to support Russia in the war in Ukraine.

    It joins the UK in adding the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and its director, Mohammad Reza Khiabani, to its sanctions list.

    These sanctions are against vessels and ports they allege are used to transport Iranian weapons to Russia to aid the war effort.

    Since the conflict began in 2022, Iran has played a large part in supporting Russia's military, and with that has faced several sanctions.

    However, these penalties - that are designed to stop the country acting aggressively or breaking international law - have not been hugely effective.

    The US has imposed more than 600 sanctions on Iranian-related entities since Biden took office three years ago, according to the US Treasury.

    But in September, the US, UK, France and Germany says Iran supplied Russia with ballistic missiles.

    Iran has repeatedly denied supplying such self-guided weapons to Russia, but sanctions, and weapon deliveries, appear to keep coming.

  16. UK announces new sanctions on Iran for aiding Russiapublished at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    16:23 GMT 18 November

    The UK government says it has imposed new sanctions on Iran's national airline and shipping carrier, in response to the country's transfer ofballistic missiles to Russia.

    Iran Air and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines now face an asset freeze, the UK adds.

    It will restrict the airline's commercial services to and from the UK. Russian cargo ship Port Olya-2 has also been sanctioned for transporting missiles from Iran to Russia.

    The UK has previously imposed sanctions on Iran for similar matters throughout the war in Ukraine.

  17. What are Storm Shadow missiles?published at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    16:14 GMT 18 November

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (11)Image source, Getty Images

    As we've reported, UK Defence Secretary John Healey says he won't comment on Ukraine's use of Storm Shadow missiles - but what are they and why are they crucial for Ukraine?

    • Storm Shadow missiles are cruise missiles with a maximum range of around 250km (155 miles)
    • They are launched from aircraft and then fly at close to the speed of sound, hugging the terrain, before dropping down and detonating its high explosive warhead
    • They are considered an ideal weapon for penetrating hardened bunkers and ammunition stores
    • Britain and France has already sent them to Ukraine - but with the caveat that Kyiv can only fire them at targets inside its borders
    • Kyiv argues not being allowed to hit the Russian bases that attacks are launched from is like making it fight with one arm tied behind its back
    • They could make a difference,but it may be a case of too little too late, says our security correspondent Frank Gardner
  18. Aftermath of air strike on Odesa - in picturespublished at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    16:00 GMT 18 November

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (12)Image source, Getty Images

    We can now bring you images showing the aftermath of Russia's strike on Odesa earlier today - which has killed 10 people, including seven policemen, and injured 47 others.

    Ukraine's air force says a strike on Odesa was the result of a ballistic missile being shot down by air defence systems.

    The photos shows debris and damaged vehicles in a roadway. People can be seen in the street inspecting damage to nearby buildings and cars.

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (13)Image source, State Emergency Service of Ukraine

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (14)Image source, State Emergency Service of Ukraine

    Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (15)Image source, State Emergency Service of Ukraine

  19. Number of injured in Odesa strike rises to 47published at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    15:53 GMT 18 November

    The number of people injured after the Russian strike on Odesa earlier today has reached 47, Oleh Kiper, the regional head, says on Telegram.

    "The struggle for the lives and health of the victims continues in hospitals," he writes. A day of mourning has been declared tomorrow in honour of the ten people that were killed, Kiper adds.

  20. Biden might want to strengthen Kyiv's hand before Trump takes officepublished at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November

    15:46 GMT 18 November

    Jessica Parker
    Reporting from Florida

    President Zelensky had a meeting with Joe Biden in September, pitching his “Victory Plan”.

    A key part of that was a plea to use US-supplied missiles on military targets inside Russia. But the pitch seemed to fall flat – until now.

    White House officials are emphasizing to US media that the change of heart is in response to Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops; a signal to Pyongyang not to send any more.

    But the over-arching political situation in the US cannot be ignored. Joe Biden has just a couple of months left in office and President-elect Donald Trump has signalled his intention to quickly end the war, without explaining how.

    But if that means pressing Kyiv to enter into talks with Moscow, the outgoing administration may also want to strengthen Ukraine’s hand – militarily and diplomatically – ahead of any negotiations.

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia vows response if Ukraine uses US long-range missiles to hit its territory (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Kareem Mueller DO

Last Updated:

Views: 6727

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kareem Mueller DO

Birthday: 1997-01-04

Address: Apt. 156 12935 Runolfsdottir Mission, Greenfort, MN 74384-6749

Phone: +16704982844747

Job: Corporate Administration Planner

Hobby: Mountain biking, Jewelry making, Stone skipping, Lacemaking, Knife making, Scrapbooking, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Kareem Mueller DO, I am a vivacious, super, thoughtful, excited, handsome, beautiful, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.