“The West wants escalation”: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov commented on the ATACMS missile strike on the Bryansk region

A Russian government representative has provided the first official comment regarding reports that Ukraine has already struck the Bryansk region with American long-range missiles.

This statement was made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during his speech in Rio de Janeiro following the G20 summit.

Lavrov outlined the following points:

• “Strikes on the Bryansk region with ATACMS missiles signal that the West seeks escalation.”
• Moscow cannot definitively confirm information that the United States has decided to use long-range missiles against Russian territory.
• Moscow hopes that the West will “fully comprehend the updated Russian nuclear doctrine.”
• Russia views German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s stance on supplying Kyiv with Taurus missiles and striking Russian territory as a responsible one. (As is known, Scholz refuses to authorize either action.)

To recap, Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov initially reported that Ukraine had carried out long-range strikes on the Bryansk region, citing his sources.

This information was later confirmed by Russia’s Ministry of Defense, though Ukraine has not officially commented on the strike.