Despite Ukraine’s appeals, Western countries, including the US and the UK, have restricted Ukraine’s use of their long-range weapons like ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles to prevent deep strikes inside Russia, allegedly aiming to avoid escalation.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has begun deploying US-made F-16 fighter jets to intercept aerial targets amid a massive wave of Russian attacks across the country on 26 August. The attack targeted Ukraine's power grid. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the use of F-16s in response to the heavy Russian barrage but stated, "It's not enough."
Zelenskyy also mentioned the successful testing of a domestically produced ballistic missile, which could enhance Ukraine's ability to strike deeper into Russian territory.
Hundreds of Russian military targets within range of Ukrainian ATACMS, ISW findsDespite Ukraine's requests to use long-range Western-made weapons such as ATACMS missiles against Russian targets, a US official told WSJ that the Biden administration has no plans to change its policy preventing the use of these weapons on Russian soil. The official added that since Ukraine began receiving ATACMS, Russia has moved its aircraft to locations out of missile range, reducing the potential impact of these strikes. Related:
- Hundreds of Russian military targets within range of Ukrainian ATACMS, ISW finds
- EU top diplomat Borrell calls for lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s weapon use in Russia
- Ukraine seeks US approval for ATACMS use in Kursk offensive
- Frontline report: Ukraine uses new domestic missile drone for long-range strikes in Russia bypassing western weapons restrictions
