Biden authorizes Ukraine to use US weapons to strike Russia, but only near Kharkiv

The US Biden administration has quietly authorized Ukraine to use US-supplied long-range weapons to strike targets on Russian territory, US media outlet Politico reported on May 30, 2024.

The use of US weapons against Russian territory is limited by the restriction that they can currently only be used in the Kharkiv region, where Ukraine's second largest city has been threatened in recent weeks by a new offensive Russian. The US government also reportedly did not authorize the use of the most powerful long-range weapon it supplied to Ukraine – the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) with a range of 300 km – against Russian territory, which means that Ukraine will only be able to use Guided Multiple Launch System (GMLRS) shots with a range of 70 km in the Kharkiv theater of operations.

“The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so that Ukraine can retaliate against Russian forces that strike or attack them. are preparing to strike them,” confirmed one of the three American officials interviewed by Politico. . The official added that the policy of prohibiting long-range strikes in Russia “has not changed.”

This policy change, reportedly made at the request of Ukraine following 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 closer to Ukrainian allies such as the United Kingdom and France, who, after supplying Ukraine with Storm Shadow/SCALP air-launched cruise missiles, also subsequently authorized their use beyond Ukrainian borders.

Ukraine will now be able to target the troops massed on its border, but it will still not be able to strike other targets closer to Russia, which could make a real difference in blocking the Russian offensive, such as bases Russian air force, from which attack aircraft operated to launch glide bombs. from a safe distance, with devastating effects in the Kharkiv region.

Ukraine has previously used its own weapons to strike targets in Russia, for example using bomb-laden unmanned aerial vehicles to attack military factories and oil and gas facilities in Russia.