The Biden administration authorized Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons for strikes deep inside Russian territory, marking a significant shift in Washington’s policy toward the war, according to Reuters and The New York Times reports.
Ukraine has been asking for lifting restrictions on long-range missiles for months after Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, on 30 August, presented senior officials in DC with a list of high-value targets in Russia that should be hit to weaken the Russian war machine.
The decision follows Russia’s introduction of North Korean forces, estimated at more than 10,000 troops, and concerns about an impending Russian assault by approximately 50,000 soldiers on Ukrainian positions in Kursk.
The Times reports they will initially target Russian and North Korean troops in the Kursk Oblast as Russia reportedly prepares a large assault with the deployment of the Korean troops there.
“While the Ukrainians were likely to use the missiles first against Russian and North Korean troops that threaten Ukrainian forces in Kursk, Mr. Biden could authorize them to use the weapons elsewhere,” the officials said to The New York Times.
The weapons likely to be employed are Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which range approximately 190 miles.
According to Reuters sources, Ukraine plans to conduct its first long-range attacks “in the coming days.”
The policy shift has divided Biden’s advisers, with some officials expressing concern about potential Russian retaliation. A US intelligence assessment, according to the Times, warned that President Putin could respond by directing “stepped-up acts of arson and sabotage targeting facilities in Europe, as well as potentially lethal attacks on US and European military bases.”
The White House refused to comment on this information, according to reports.
Earlier, Western countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, imposed restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons to strike military targets deep inside Russian territory, fearing nuclear escalation with Russia.
The shift in the policy comes two months before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration to strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities, as Trump claimed earlier to cut off military aid to Ukraine and as he might be more inclined to pursue a deal with Russia that could be unfavorable to Ukraine.
ATACMS is a long-range, high-precision ballistic missile that can hit targets up to 300 kilometers away. After firing, the missile rises upward and accelerates to hit the target almost vertically. Its drop rate is over 3,500 kilometers per hour. Ukraine has been using ATACMS on its territory for more than a year.
Read also:
- Telegraph: Starmer, Macron aim to push Biden for last-minute shift on Ukraine long-range missile policy ahead of Trump presidency
- Zelenskyy urged allies to provide “long-range capabilities” and permission for deep strikes on Russian territory
- German Foreign Minister urges her party to continue supporting Ukraine, including sending long-range weapons
