**Putin Updates Nuclear Doctrine as Ukraine Uses U.S. Missiles for First Strike Inside Russia**

In a significant escalation of tensions, Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally updated his country’s nuclear doctrine, a measure taken in response to Ukraine's recent use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to strike inside Russian territory. The new doctrine stipulates that Moscow may deploy nuclear weapons in retaliation to an attack by a nonnuclear country, provided that the attack has the backing of a nuclear state.

The Kremlin announcement came amid reports that Ukraine launched its first attack using American-made ATACMS missiles. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that five of the missiles were intercepted by Russian air defenses, but fragments from another missile struck a military facility in the Bryansk region, causing a minor fire that was quickly extinguished without resulting in casualties or significant damage.

These updates to Russia's nuclear policy represent the most pronounced saber-rattling from Moscow since the outset of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now into its 1,000th day. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified that the timing of the nuclear doctrine update aligns with the current geopolitical landscape, specifically highlighting the shift in U.S. policy permitting Ukraine to use Western long-range missiles against Russian targets.

The updated doctrine asserts that any act of aggression against Russia or its allies, like Belarus, by a nonnuclear country supported by a nuclear state will be regarded as a joint attack and could justify a nuclear response. This is a notable change from the previous language that specified nuclear weapons would only be used if the state's existence was under threat.

Peskov emphasized that the deployment of nuclear weapons would remain a "last resort" measure. However, the potential for such a response has increased due to U.S. authorization for Ukraine to use long-range ATACMS missiles for limited strikes inside Russia—a decision driven by recent reports of North Korean troops joining the conflict on Russia's side.

Experts like Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace argue that these alterations in Russia's nuclear stance provide greater latitude for a nuclear response to what Moscow perceives as Western aggression against its territory. Stanovaya suggests that Putin might be maneuvering strategically ahead of potential peace initiatives from President-elect Donald Trump, while condemning President Joe Biden’s administration as irresponsible in its approach.

The Biden administration's decision to relax restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S. long-range missiles has drawn sharp criticism from Moscow, with Peskov accusing Washington of exacerbating the conflict. This shift in U.S. policy marks a precarious point in the ongoing war, increasing the likelihood of further escalation.