Ukraine hits Russia with US weapons: official

WASHINGTON-

Ukraine has used US weapons to strike inside Russia in recent days, according to a Western official familiar with the matter.

These weapons were used under President Joe Biden's recently approved direction authorizing the use of U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.

The official was not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive issue and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Biden's directive authorizes the use of U.S.-supplied weapons to strike Russian forces that are attacking or preparing to attack. This does not change U.S. policy directing Ukraine not to use U.S.-supplied ATACMS, long-range missiles, and other munitions to carry out offensive strikes inside Russia , American officials said.

Ukrainian officials have increased calls for the United States to allow Kiev forces to defend against attacks from Russian territory. Kharkiv is just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Russian border and is the subject of intensified Russian attacks.

By advancing into the region northeast of Kharkiv, Russian forces exploited a long delay in replenishing U.S. military aid. Additionally, Western Europe's insufficient military production has slowed crucial deliveries to Ukraine on the battlefield.

On Tuesday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters he could not confirm that Ukraine had used U.S. weapons on targets in Russia.

“We're just not able, on a day-to-day basis, to know exactly what the Ukrainians are shooting at and what,” Kirby said. “It’s certainly at the tactical level.”

According to a June 3 report from the Institute for the Study of War, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian S-300/400 air defense battery in the Belgorod region, likely with the artillery rocket system at high mobility, or HIMARS, on June 1 or June 1. 2. The air defense system was located approximately 60 kilometers (about 40 miles) from the current front line in the northern Kharkiv region and more than 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the city of Kharkiv, which is located scope of HIMARS, the institute reported.

The confirmation of the strikes comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Qatar, which, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has been a key mediator in prisoner exchanges and other negotiations between the Russia and Ukraine since the start of the war.

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Associated Press writer Tara Copp contributed to this report.