Biden allows Ukraine to use US weapons to attack Russia

President Biden has given Ukraine the green light to use U.S.-supplied weapons to strike certain targets on Russian territory, according to a U.S. official.

“The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S.-supplied weapons for counterfire purposes in the Kharkiv region, so that Ukraine can retaliate against Russian forces that are attacking or preparing to attack them,” the U.S. official said. said Thursday.

The official noted, however, that Ukraine would not be allowed to use long-range U.S. weapons to strike military targets deep within Russian territory.

The U.S. Army's tactical missile system, for example, can carry out strikes at a range of 200 miles.

“Our policy regarding prohibiting the use of ATACMS or long-range strikes inside Russia has not changed,” the US official said.

The announcement marks a shift in long-standing U.S. policy, which prevented Ukraine from using American firepower to strike Russian troops and military installations on Russian soil.

The restriction was put in place following the Biden administration's fears that U.S. weapons killing Russians in Russia would lead to an escalation of the war.

The policy shift comes as Russian troops advance toward Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.

The northeastern Ukrainian city lies just 30 miles south of Russia's border with the war-torn country and has recently been the scene of some of the most intense fighting in the long-running conflict. 27 months.

In recent weeks, the Kremlin has touted its military advances in the region, saying it has captured villages around Kharkiv as part of a broad offensive in the region that would put it within artillery range of the city.

Russian troops launched their offensive in the region on May 10.

Since then, the United States has announced approximately $675 million in military aid to Ukraine, in the form of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and munitions; artillery shells; High-velocity anti-radiation missiles (HARMs) and other “urgently needed” offensive and defensive equipment and munitions.

The Biden administration has provided Ukraine with five aid packages containing weapons from existing Defense Department stockpiles since Congress approved $60 billion in additional funding last month.

Congressional lawmakers were briefed in early May by U.S. military officials about the “value” of easing restrictions on Ukraine's use of U.S. weapons, according to Politico.

The formal decision to change this policy was only made in “the last few days”, a US official told the media, in response to a request made by Ukraine after the start of the Russian offensive on Kharkiv.