Media: Biden approves use of US missiles by Ukraine to strike Russia

President Joe Biden has authorised the Ukrainian military to use long-range US missiles to strike inside Russian territory for the first time.

The decision, which comes as Biden approaches the final months of his presidency, marks a significant shift in US policy and could have far-reaching implications for the ongoing war in Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports via The New York Times.

The weapons in question, known as ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems), are capable of striking targets up to 350 kilometres away. The decision was driven by the growing threat posed by Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region, located in western Russia, where Ukraine is currently defending its territory against a major assault by Russian forces and newly deployed North Korean troops. 

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not confirmed the authorisation, he hinted that the effectiveness of the strike would be in the action, not the announcement.

This move represents a reversal of earlier restrictions placed on US military aid to Ukraine. In the past, Biden allowed Ukraine to use other weapons, such as the HIMARS rocket system, but withheld the ATACMS, which have a significantly greater range.

The shift comes after a surprise Russian offensive in May and the continued escalation of Russian and North Korean involvement in the war. US officials indicated that the missiles would likely be used first against Russian and North Korean military forces threatening Ukraine’s positions in Kursk, but further use could extend across Russian territory if deemed necessary.

While some in the Biden administration feared that such a move could provoke retaliation from Russian President Vladimir Putin, others saw the change as necessary to help Ukraine defend itself more effectively.

The introduction of over 10,000 North Korean soldiers to the conflict has stretched Ukrainian forces, which are also facing intense pressure in Kharkiv and eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have already made inroads into Russian-held areas in Kursk, making the region a strategic point in the ongoing conflict.

Thus, the policy change also comes amid growing tensions within the US political landscape. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to limit support for Ukraine once he takes office, and some Republicans have long criticised Biden for not being more aggressive in aiding Ukraine’s defence. Representative Michael Turner, a leading Republican lawmaker, praised the decision but argued it had come too late.

Zelenskyy has long lobbied for the ability to strike Russian soil with long-range weapons, and while the US is now on board, the British and French governments had already supplied Ukraine with similar missile systems. However, both Britain and France had hesitated to allow strikes on Russian territory without US approval, making Biden’s decision a pivotal moment in the broader Western support for Ukraine.

As the war intensifies and a potential change in US leadership looms, the effectiveness of these new missile capabilities could prove decisive in the balance of power in Ukraine’s struggle to regain territory and defend itself against Russian aggression.

By Aghakazim Guliyev