Putin vows to respond if Ukraine uses long-range missiles to strike Russia as army chiefs plan ‘range of responses’

VLADIMIR PUTIN has vowed to hit back if Ukraine uses long-range missiles to strike Russia.

His army chiefs are drawing up plans for a slew of chilling responses if the West lifts restrictions on Kyiv’s missile permissions.

Dictator Putin confirmed today that if Ukraine is allowed to fire the long-range rockets into Russian territory, it would mark an act of war by NATO and he would have to hit back.

The seething tyrant said: “Our military department is thinking about this and will offer various options.”

He doubled down on previous threats – asking whether the West had heard his earlier warning that use of British, French or American missiles would be seen as a declaration of war.

Putin told state press: “They didn’t tell me anything about this, but I hope they heard, because, of course, we will have to make some decisions for ourselves too.

“The point is not whether someone will be allowed or not allowed to use this weapon against Russia.

“Ukrainian troops cannot use these weapons on their own.”

He claimed that any strikes against targets deep inside Russia by Ukraine could only be made with close Western involvement, specifically the use of satellites which Kyiv does not have.

“Only NATO specialists can do this, because this requires space reconnaissance, which Ukraine naturally does not have,” he said.

“We understand this –  specialists are needed who will enter flight missions based on this reconnaissance data and perform a whole series of other actions.

“The Ukrainian army cannot do this on its own. Therefore, what is happening now is all being done by NATO officers.

“The only question is whether they will allow themselves to strike deep into Russian territory or not.

“And, naturally, we will have to react to this accordingly.

“How to react, when, where exactly, well, it is too early to talk about this.

“But, of course, our military department [the Russian defence ministry] is thinking about this and will offer various options for answers.”

Mad Vlad made similar threats in September when Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited US President Joe Biden in Washington DC.

He said: “This would in a significant way change the very nature of the conflict… It would mean that Nato countries are at war with Russia.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called for his counterparts in the US and UK to grant permission for shooting long-range rockets over enemy lines.

At the moment Ukraine has access to British Storm Shadow and American ACATMS missiles – but are limited in their use.

Kyiv argues that it needs to strike Russian air bases, ammunition depots and other key military targets to properly fend off Putin’s attacks.

It says it needs to be able to take out Russian bomber fleets which drop lethal “glide bombs” on Ukrainian targets.

So far Kyiv has only been able to use Western long-range rockets against targets in occupied Crimea and some other regions annexed illegally by Russia.

The US and UK have held back on loosening permissions because of a fear of retaliation.

There are concerns that Putin’s so far empty threats over nuclear revenge could be realised if Western weapons struck targets on his soil.

Kremlin hardliners could also push for attacks against missile strongholds in Nato countries – such as an airbase in Poland.

This would invoke Nato’s Article 5 mutual defence clause – triggering a wider war with Russia.