MOSCOW - Ukrainian forces on Wednesday launched a missile strike with Western high-precision weapons on the Taganrog military airfield in Russia's Rostov region, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

Six US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles were used, the ministry noted, adding that two of them were shot down and the rest were deflected by Russian electronic warfare systems.

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Falling missile fragments caused casualties among the personnel, the ministry said.

"This attack by Western long-range weapons will not go unanswered, and appropriate measures will be taken," it added.

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In a major shift of policy on the Ukraine crisis, the United States in November authorized Ukraine to use US long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia's territory. Russia has repeatedly called it an escalation of tension around the conflict.