The United States has not “encouraged or allowed” Ukraine to carry out attacks against Moscow inside Russia’s borders, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on Tuesday.
“We have neither encouraged nor allowed Ukrainians to strike inside Russia,” he told reporters. “But the important thing is to understand what Ukrainians experience every day with the ongoing Russian aggression against their country.”
Ukrainian servicemen walk among the debris of buildings damaged after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Saturday, April 16, 2022.
(AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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Blinken said the United States, along with its international partners, are determined to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to “defend itself, defend its territory, defend its freedom.”
The secretary’s comments came after Russia accused Kiev of carrying out drone strikes in three separate strikes this week, two of which hit Russian air bases hundreds of miles inside Russian territory.
Kiev has not claimed responsibility for the alleged drone strikes, but has appeared to celebrate the attacks.
The attacks – if indeed they were launched on Kiev’s orders – show not only Ukraine’s growing readiness to strike Russia on its own soil, but also reflect the vulnerabilities of Russia’s internal defense.
Two separate strikes on Monday hit Russia’s Engels air base in the southeastern Saratov region and Dyagilyaevo airport, located near the city of Ryazan, about 125 miles southeast of Moscow.
Ukrainian servicemen are seen after firing a mortar shell at the Toretsk front line in Donbass, Ukraine, December 2, 2022.
(Narciso Contreras/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Three people were reportedly killed in the attacks and at least two Tu-95 BEAR heavy bombers were damaged in the explosions.
The British Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that Engels Air Base, some 370 miles from Ukrainian-controlled territory, serves as Moscow’s main operating base for its long-range aviation force in western Russia and is “home to more than 30 heavy bombers”.
Moscow reportedly relies on bombers as an integral part of its nuclear deterrence and will likely respond to attacks by dispersing the aircraft at various bases across Russia.
A third airbase was hit by a drone strike on Tuesday in the Russian city of Kursk, near Ukraine’s northeastern border, although only one oil storage tank was reportedly set on fire.
The attacks followed warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Russian forces are planning “something” alongside an increase in Russian airstrikes.
Blinken said it was in the US interest to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia and stop any precedents that would allow the attackers to believe they could “re-draw” regional borders by force.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a joint news conference following the 32nd annual Australian-US ministerial consultation at the US Department of State, December 6, 2022, in Washington, DC
(Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
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When asked whether the United States would work to prevent Ukraine from developing its long-range strike technology, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin replied “No.”
“We’re absolutely not doing that,” he added.
