Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning to the U.S. and its European allies, stating that if Ukraine utilizes Western long-range missiles to strike Russian territory, it will be considered an act of war by NATO. He emphasized that Ukraine cannot independently launch these missiles without intelligence and support from NATO countries, asserting that such actions would fundamentally alter the nature of the conflict. U.S. and UK officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have resisted allowing Ukraine to conduct deep strikes into Russia, despite ongoing appeals from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In St. Petersburg, Putin reiterated that only NATO personnel could operate these missile systems, framing any NATO involvement as a direct conflict with Russia. Meanwhile, concerns among Russian citizens, particularly in border regions like Oryol, reflect fears of possible retaliatory strikes should the West permit Ukraine to escalate its military actions. Despite the tense atmosphere, daily life in many Russian cities continues under the shadow of the ongoing conflict and emerging threats.