"Totally shitty situation": Unrest and thoughts of fleeing in Russia after approval for US missiles

Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger "Totally shitty situation": Unrest and thoughts of fleeing in Russia after approval for US missiles David Schmitz • 3 hours • 3 minutes reading time An ATACMS missile is fired during an exercise. Ukraine is now also allowed to use the missiles against targets in Russia. After Washington gave Ukraine the go-ahead to attack targets in Russia with US missiles, there are nervous reactions in the Russian border regions. While the Kremlin commented relatively cautiously on US President Joe Biden's decision and referred to "new tensions" that would result from the decision, unrest is now spreading near the Ukrainian border in Russia. The range of the most powerful US missiles in the Ukrainian arsenal is around 300 kilometers. However, the launch pads for the ATACMS missiles are usually not set up directly on the border - the risk of a Russian counterattack is too great. In fact, Ukraine should now be able to reach targets within Russia at a distance of around 250 kilometers. "Vigorous reactions" in Russia after US missile decision ATACMS are ballistic missiles. The destructive power of the missiles has already been demonstrated in the course of the war in several Ukrainian attacks within the occupied territories and in Crimea. Now new options are open to Kiev - and the situation is changing for residents in the Russian border regions. Preparations are now underway there for possible attacks by Ukraine. "Maps with the radius of the missiles" are being sent to colleagues, the independent Russian media "Verstka" reported on Monday, reporting on occasional "violent reactions", particularly in the Voronezh region, which borders the contested regions of Belgorod and Kursk. Thoughts of fleeing in Russia due to "completely shitty situation" The situation is "completely shitty", a local official said, reported "Verstka". Local officials in Voronezh also considered "packing up" and taking their relatives "far away," it said. So far, however, they have tried to calm themselves down by saying that Ukraine is unlikely to deploy expensive ATACMS missiles to attack non-military targets. The local military airfield has also been evacuated for some time, one of the officials explained. All "objects" located there have already been relocated, it was reported from Voronezh. In addition, the region is "well covered by air defense," "Verstka" quoted local administrative officials as saying. Russian official advises residents to "save their nerves" Since the approval for ATACMS attacks on targets in Russia, the local government has significantly intensified its communication work, the Russian media reported. A few minutes after reports of "flashes of light" in the region, the regional administration's press service gave the all-clear on Monday - and thus much faster than in recent months, "Verstka" reported. An official advised the region's residents to "save their nerves" because they would "need" them after all. Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has responded to the US reports with approval. The issue now is "that the Ukrainians do not have to wait for the missile to fly over the border, but that the military launch bases, that they can be destroyed from where the missile is being flown," said the Green politician on rbb Inforadio. This is within the scope of every country's right to self-defense. "Every missile fired at the people of Ukraine is also an attack on our peace in Europe," Baerbock also wrote on Platform X. Putin is deliberately bombing power plants and heat supplies. The Kremlin chief does not want to "negotiate, but rather subjugate Ukraine," Baerbock explained. "Together we must have the strength to protect our peace." Olaf Scholz remains against Taurus cruise missiles It has also long been known that the Greens "see this in the same way as our Eastern European partners, the British, the French and also the Americans," Baerbock explained. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), on the other hand, has always spoken out against giving Kyiv a green light. Scholz also does not want to supply German Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. The SPD reaffirmed the Chancellor's course on Monday. Even after the decision in Washington, Scholz does not want to supply the cruise missiles, it was said from Berlin.