The US Biden Administration has quietly given Ukraine permission to use US-supplied long-range weapons to strike targets within Russian territory, US news outlet Politico reported on 30 May 2024.
The use of US weapons against Russian territory is caveated by the restriction that they can currently only be used in the Kharkiv area, where Ukraine’s second-largest city has been threatened in recent weeks by a new Russian offensive. The US government has also reportedly not sanctioned the use of the most potent long-range weapon it has supplied to Ukraine – the 300 km-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) – against Russian territory, meaning that Ukraine will only be able to use 70 km-range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rounds in the Kharkiv theatre of operations.
“The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them,” one of three US officials Politico spoke to confirmed. The official added that the policy of not allowing long-range strikes inside Russia “has not changed”.
The change in policy, reportedly made at Ukraine’s request in the wake of Russia’s Kharkiv offensive, was approved by US President Joe Biden following recommendations from senior US officials and took effect on 30 May.
The new directive brings the United States more into line with Ukrainian allies such as the United Kingdom and France, who, having supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow/SCALP air-launched cruise missiles, also subsequently sanctioned their use beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Ukraine will now be able to target troops massing on its border, but is still restricted from striking other targets deeper with Russia that could make a real difference to stalling the Russian offensive such as Russian airbases, from which strike aircraft have operated to launch glide bombs at stand-off ranges to devastating effect in the Kharkiv region.
Ukraine has already used its own weapons to strike targets in Russia, having, for example, used bomb-laden unmanned aerial vehicles to attack military factories as well as oil and gas facilities inside Russia.
