Ukraine uses US weapons in Russia after Kremlin warned of retaliation, report says

U.S. weapons have been used to strike the Russian side of the border in recent days, the Associated Press reported, citing an unnamed Western official familiar with the matter.

The strikes were carried out under guidelines recently approved by Biden, allowing Ukraine to use weapons on Russian soil exclusively around Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, marking a significant exemption to Russia's objection. Biden administration to strikes in Russia.

The directives specifically authorize Ukraine to use U.S. weapons in a “counterfire” capacity to defend against Russian forces attacking or preparing to attack Ukraine, which is still not authorized to use U.S. weapons in long-range strikes against other regions of Russia.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Monday warned the United States “against miscalculations that could have fatal consequences,” referring to recent comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who suggested that countries NATO leaders risked a wider conflict by aiding Ukraine's firepower, according to Reuters. .

Putin said Ukraine's use of Western weapons amounts to direct Western involvement in the war, arguing that the use of such weapons requires satellite, intelligence and military assistance on its part , Reuters reported.