Ukraine has received permission from the United States to use long-range missiles against military targets in Russia’s rear. The New York Times reported this with reference to sources in the US administration.
The newspaper’s sources claim that Russia has banned the use of these 300 km-range ATACMS missiles, which is why Ukraine has only used them on its own territory under Russian occupation, particularly in Crimea.
The first use of missiles against the Russian rear is expected to be in the Kursk region, including against the North Korean military stationed there; the decision to authorize this was allegedly made in response to the involvement of DPRK soldiers in combat.
It is not yet clear whether these weapons have already been used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces or whether the data on the American authorisation was leaked before the missiles were actually used.
According to Axios, citing its own sources, the White House’s decision to permit Ukraine to use long-range US missiles on Russian territory applies exclusively to the Kursk region of Russia and is a response to the involvement of North Korean military personnel in the war.
According to an informed source, the US has only permitted Ukraine to use ATACMS in the Kursk region, where the DPRK military has started to engage in the fighting on Russia’s side.
According to him, the motivation for this decision is to deter North Korea from sending additional troops to help Russia in its war against Ukraine.
The US administration hopes that if North Korean forces in Russia come under serious attack, Pyongyang may reconsider its decision to continue supporting Russia with troops, and this will contribute to the failure of the Russian counteroffensive to oust Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region.
The NYT wrote that Biden’s authorization of the Ukrainian military “represents a major shift in U.S. policy,” noting that the decision has divided Biden’s advisers, some of whom believe it was a mistake and warn that it “could spur Putin to take forceful action against the United States and partners.”
However, some members of Biden’s team hold the view that such a threat from Russia is unrealistic. The media emphasizes that the US does not believe this decision will change the course of the war, even though it will bring tactical benefits to Ukraine’s forces.
Bloomberg cited sources as saying that the DPRK could send another 100,000 troops to Russia. The journalists said that this support is another step in the development of the partnership between Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Therefore, U.S. officials anticipate using the aforementioned type of weapon against Russian and North Korean troops to defend Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of western Russia. However, the American leader may also authorize the expansion of the permissible strike zone.
The Russian Federation Council said that such a decision leads to the beginning of a major world war. First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov said that Moscow would respond “immediately” to Washington’s alleged “unprecedented step” in this regard.
At the same time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Vladimir Putin had already spoken on the matter. Indeed, in September, he threatened that this authorization would be perceived in Russia as “direct participation” NATO in the war, and as a result, Moscow would make “appropriate decisions.”
Earlier, as a new Russian offensive across the border toward Kharkiv began, the United States permitted Ukraine to use HIMARS to strike Russian territory near the border. To help Ukraine’s forces halt Russian troops’ advance, the White House took these measures.
The White House also had to provide explanations for its disapproval of long-range strikes against Russia. Earlier, US and Pentagon intelligence officials were quoted by Fox News as saying that allowing Ukraine to launch long-range strikes on Russian territory would bring Kyiv more disadvantages than benefits, so they recommended not changing the policy.
As previously reported, German Chancellor Scholz justified his reluctance to provide Ukraine with German Taurus long-range missiles by citing the US’s refusal.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has asked for Tomahawks from the United States as part of his “victory plan.”
