Russia prepared to strike Germany if Taurus missiles are used
Russia could authorize strikes on German territory if Ukraine uses German-supplied Taurus cruise missiles to attack Russian targets, a senior Russian lawmaker has warned.
Andrey Kartapolov, chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee and a former deputy defense minister, said the long-range missiles require direct German military involvement to operate—making Berlin a potential participant in any such attack.
Speculation about a potential transfer of Taurus missiles to Kiev resurfaced this week after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Ukraine would be allowed to use Western-supplied weapons without range limitations. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Merz confirmed that delivering the Taurus system was 'possible,' though he added that Ukrainian forces would require 'several months of training' to use them effectively.
In an interview with Life.ru on Wednesday, Kartapolov said Moscow is 'ready for everything' if Germany proceeds with such a transfer.
'We are prepared to intercept the Taurus missiles, strike the launch sites, the operators, and, if necessary, the locations from which they are delivered,' he warned.
The Taurus KEPD 350 missile has a range of over 500 kilometers and is capable of reaching targets deep within Russian territory, including Moscow.
Kartapolov emphasized that Ukraine lacks the technical expertise to operate such weapons independently. He claimed that earlier deliveries of long-range systems—including the U.S.-made ATACMS, Britain's Storm Shadow, and France's SCALP—have only been deployed with the assistance of Western military specialists.
'Ukrainian troops can press the launch button—that's not the problem,' he said. 'But they cannot program the targets. That data comes from American and European satellites. If Germany supplies these missiles, German personnel will inevitably be involved on the ground.'
The German Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that it would provide Kiev with an additional €5.2 billion ($5.6 billion) in military aid. Much of the funding, according to the ministry, will support the production of long-range weaponry inside Ukraine.
Responding to the development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Berlin of crossing a dangerous line. 'Germany's direct involvement in the war is now obvious,' he said, adding that the country 'is sliding down the same slippery slope it already followed a couple of times in the last century—toward its own collapse.'
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