With his statement Viktor Bondarev, first deputy chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the Russian Federation Council, has sparked wide interpretations about potential actions by the Russian armed forces following reported authorizations by the US, Britain and France for Kiev to attack targets in Russia with Western long-range missiles. However, in his statement to TASS, Bondarev carefully avoided indicating that Russia was planning strikes on NATO territory.
The senator notes that the Russian armed forces have information about the routes of arms deliveries to the Ukrainian army. According to him, "long-range weapons will be as legitimate a target for Russia as other types of weapons". This wording suggests that targets will be carefully selected without specifying territorial boundaries.
"In any case, Russia has sufficiently advanced means to reflect attacks with any kind of weapons, including long-range ones," adds Bondarev, without specifically indicating territories outside of Ukraine and Russia.
While his comments focused on the legitimacy of attacks on long-range weapons supplies, the lack of direct mention of strikes on NATO countries is key. This gives the impression of an evasive but carefully chosen message that aims to avoid escalation in the interpretation of his words.
Bondarev points out that the decision to use long-range weapons against Russia was "initiated by the Americans" and disseminated through Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, comparing the current situation to the long-delayed, yet accomplished delivery of US F-16 fighter jets to Kiev. He also accuses Washington of creating problems for Russia and potentially for the US president-elect in the context of domestic political processes in America.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his press secretary Dmitry Peskov have repeatedly emphasized that actions by NATO countries, such as the supply of long-range weapons, could be seen as possible direct involvement in the conflict. However, Bondarev's statement remained more evasive, not suggesting clear intentions to strike outside of Ukraine.