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Long-range weapons debate peaks on 12 September 2024
Summary
A look back at a day when Putin's warning on NATO weapons, new permissions from allies and continued attacks on civilians converged.
What did it mean when Moscow said that Ukraine's use of Western weapons amounted to a NATO war against Russia? On 12 September 2024, Russian president Vladimir Putin warned that Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territory with NATO weapons would indicate the alliance's formal entry into the war. He argued that NATO personnel programme these weapons, which he called a "direct confrontation".
The permissions behind the warning
The warning followed a run of decisions by Kyiv's partners. On 10 September, the Netherlands lifted all restrictions on the military equipment it had given Ukraine, allowing long-range targeting of Russia, and urged NATO allies to do the same. On 11 September, the United Kingdom reportedly approved the use of Storm Shadow cruise missiles against targets inside Russian territory.
Ukraine's own long-range capability was also in evidence. On 10 September, Ukrainian drones hit several Russian regions, including Moscow, and flights were suspended at Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports. Bryansk's governor, Alexander Bogomaz, said at least 59 drones had been shot down over his region. Russia reported two deaths in the Moscow attack.
Iran and the wider supply picture
The same week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia had received Fath 360 tactical ballistic missiles from Iran and that he expected their deployment within weeks. Iran denied it, calling the claim psychological warfare. The United Kingdom, France and Germany announced new sanctions on Iran over missile supplies to Russia. Iran had backed Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, regularly delivering Shahed drones.
On 12 September, a spokesperson for India's Foreign Ministry said about 45 Indian nationals had been discharged from the Russian military, with efforts under way to free another 50.
Diplomacy and the human toll
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly denounced a Brazilian–Chinese peace initiative on 12 September. He said both countries were effectively siding with Russia, because the approach would let the Russian army keep Ukrainian territory in the name of de-escalation rather than help Ukraine resist.
The fighting continued on the ground and at sea. Russian shelling of Borova in Kharkiv Oblast killed three civilians and injured nine, including several emergency service personnel. In Donetsk Oblast, Russian artillery killed three Red Cross workers and injured two. Ukraine also accused Russia of missile strikes on a Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged bulk carrier carrying grain to Egypt, in Romania's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. No casualties were reported.
What the day showed
Taken together, the day set two tracks against each other. Allies were widening the scope for Ukraine to hit targets in Russia, and Moscow answered with a rhetorical escalation that framed those decisions as direct NATO involvement. Meanwhile, Kyiv rejected peace proposals that left Russian forces in occupied territory, and civilians and aid workers continued to be killed.
