A viral social media post claims that Ukraine recently fired U.S.-made missiles at Russia, accompanied by a video purportedly showing the aftermath of such an attack.
🚨 BREAKING: Ukraine has fired U.S. made missiles at Russia.
How can President Trump deescalate the conflict in January?pic.twitter.com/xxZDErqsAC
— Resist the Mainstream (@ResisttheMS) November 19, 2024
Verdict: MisleadingÂ
While President Biden recently authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles to strike Russian forces in certain contexts, the video cited in the claim does not depict such an event. It shows the aftermath of a Russian missile strike on a residential area in Sumy, Ukraine.
Fact Check:
The viral post coincided with reports of a significant escalation in U.S. policy on Ukraine’s use of advanced weaponry. On November 17, 2024, President Biden approved the use of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) by Ukraine to defend against Russian and North Korean forces operating in the Kursk region of Russia. (RELATED: No, Turkey Is Not Leaving NATO)
However, the video accompanying the claim does not depict a Ukrainian missile strike inside Russia. The footage is from Sumy, a Ukrainian city, and shows the aftermath of a Russian ballistic missile strike on Nov. 17, as confirmed by sources like MSN, who in their turn used a video from Reuters.
While ATACMS missiles have been supplied to Ukraine, their use is tightly regulated. Recent changes allow Ukraine to strike specific Russian military targets in response to cross-border assaults and to counter Russian-North Korean offensives in the Kursk region. The missiles are intended for precise, high-value military targets, such as troop concentrations, ammunition depots, and logistics hubs.
The Biden administration made the decision after Russia intensified its attacks and introduced North Korean troops into the conflict. However, U.S. officials maintain oversight to ensure the weapons are used as intended and within agreed parameters.
This is not the first time Check Your Fact has debunked misinformation about the war between Ukraine and Russia.
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