Iranian missiles in Russia are a legitimate target, a Ukrainian official says

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A high-ranking Ukrainian official stated on Monday that Western allies should permit Ukraine to use the weapons they’ve provided to target military warehouses within Russia, citing concerns that Iran may have supplied ballistic missiles to support Russia’s war efforts.

The United States has reportedly informed its allies that it believes Iran has delivered short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the conflict with Ukraine, according to sources who spoke to The Associated Press over the weekend.

Western nations have been reluctant to allow Ukraine to strike targets on Russian soil, fearing that such actions could escalate the conflict further into Europe’s largest war since World War II. However, Andrii Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, argued that “protection is not escalation.”

“In light of the possible delivery of ballistic missiles to Russia, Ukraine should be permitted to use Western-supplied weapons to destroy the warehouses holding these missiles to prevent terror,” Yermak stated on his Telegram channel. He did not specify the country involved in supplying the missiles.

Since the conflict began in February 2022, Russia has carried out repeated and devastating long-range missile and drone strikes on Ukraine, killing over 10,000 civilians, according to United Nations figures. These attacks have also severely impacted Ukraine's electricity infrastructure.

Despite the ongoing assaults, Ukraine has resisted, recently executing a daring incursion into Russia’s Kursk region while defending against Russian advances in Donetsk.

Since 2022, Russia has been using Iranian-made Shahed drones, and the potential addition of Iranian ballistic missiles has raised alarm among Western governments as President Vladimir Putin seeks support from other nations.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the reports of Iranian missiles as “false information,” but acknowledged that Iran remains a key partner, with ongoing development in trade, economic relations, and cooperation in various sectors.

In response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani denied Tehran's involvement, calling the allegations politically motivated.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expressed “deep concern” over the possibility of Iranian weaponry being used in the conflict, demanding that Iran “cease all military support to Russia” to demonstrate the authenticity of its claims about not contributing to the war effort.

CIA Director William Burns warned over the weekend of the growing and “troubling” defense relationships involving Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, which he said pose threats to both Ukraine and Western allies in the Middle East.

China’s Defense Ministry announced joint naval and air drills with Russia starting this month. Although China has not directly provided arms to Russia, it has become a crucial economic partner, purchasing significant quantities of Russian oil and gas, and supplying electronics and other items with both civilian and military applications.