Ukraine strikes inside Russia using Western weapons, official says
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Ukraine's use of US weaponry, particularly the HIMARS system, for strikes within Russia, highlights a new approach by the Biden administration amid rising Russia-NATO tensions.
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Ukrainian soldiers prepare to fire a 120mm mortar towards the Russian position on the front line at an undisclosed location in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on June 4, 2024. (AP)
A member of Ukraine's Parliament reported that days after the Biden administration permitted the launch of US weapons from Ukraine into Russia, Kiev extended to new altitudes, striking a military facility over the border using a US-made artillery system, as reported by The New York Times (NYT).
In this context, the deputy chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament's Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, Yeho Chernev, reported on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces carried out strikes up to 20 miles (32 km) into Russia. He added that Ukraine's forces used a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
US 'one step forward, one step back'
Since US President Joe Biden lifted the ban on such strikes, a Ukrainian official publicly revealed that Ukraine used US weapons to fire into Russia. The revelation comes after the ban was considered a red line by the Biden administration to avoid "increasing tensions with a nuclear-armed nation." However, the US' daring move comes with limitations; the administration conditioned that weapons could only be used inside Russian territory near northeastern Ukraine and for "defensive purposes."
Regarding the US HIMARS employed by Ukraine, it is an American-made long-range rocket system capable of firing beyond the range of most of Ukraine’s non-Western weaponry. This capability enables Ukraine to extend its reach into Russian territory.
Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute specializing in the Russian military and modern warfare, suggested that the range and precision of the assault on the missile launching systems implied the utilization of American weaponry, according to NYT.
“Given the range, type of target, munition availability, and change in the Biden administration’s policy,” he wrote in a text message.“I think it is probable this strike was conducted with HIMARS,” he added.
Ukraine desperate for Western weapons
For weeks, Ukraine had been urging its Western allies to grant permission for the use of their weapons to carry out strikes within Russian territory, the necessity of targeting military installations, command centers, and munitions depots in Russia.
As reported by NYT, Russia has issued repeated warnings to Ukraine's Western allies regarding the potential repercussions of permitting strikes within Russian territory. Sergei A. Ryabkov, a Russian deputy foreign minister, cautioned US officials against misjudgments that could lead to dire outcomes. "We would like to caution US officials against miscalculations that could result in catastrophic consequences," Ryabkov stated on Monday.
Chernev's acknowledgment of the use of US weapons to strike inside Russia stands as the sole confirmation provided by Ukraine thus far, possibly due to apprehension about escalating tensions further. Additionally, Ukraine is gearing up for a diplomatic endeavor in Switzerland later this month, aiming to present its proposed framework for resolving the conflict.
A statement from the National Security Council spokesperson, John F. Kirby, affirmed that the United States will maintain its current policy, which prohibits strikes deeper into Russian territory in the coming weeks. Furthermore, the administration has restricted Ukraine from utilizing ATACMS – a longer-range and more potent rocket – for strikes into Russia. Despite this, Ukrainian officials continue to advocate for expanded permissions to conduct strikes into Russian territory.
