In a significant development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of staff announced on Tuesday that Ukraine has been granted permission to utilize Western weapons to strike inside Russia. This decision, deemed vital by Ukrainian authorities, is expected to have far-reaching implications for Moscow’s tactical aviation and its ability to operate along border areas.
The United States, under pressure from Ukraine and certain European allies, recently altered its policy to allow Kyiv to conduct strikes inside Russia with Western-supplied weaponry, as part of efforts to repel Russia’s full-scale invasion.
According to Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff, this decision will influence the course of the conflict, aid in planning counteroffensive maneuvers, and weaken Russia’s operational capabilities along the border. Moreover, it is anticipated to enhance Ukraine’s defense against Russian aerial assaults.
While Ukraine has previously targeted occupied Crimea with Western-made weapons, the recent permission to strike targets on Russian soil with U.S.-supplied weaponry comes as Kyiv faces increased hostilities in the northeastern Kharkiv region, situated just 30 km from the Russian border.
U.S. administration officials clarify that this decision is narrowly tailored to the situation in the Kharkiv region, allowing Ukraine to retaliate against Russian forces either attacking or preparing to attack from across the border.
In addition to utilizing Western weapons, Ukraine is also advancing its own weaponry capabilities, particularly focusing on drones, to target locations within Russia. Some Ukrainian drones have already conducted successful strikes on Russian oil facilities and military targets, even reaching locations as distant as 1,800 km from the Ukrainian frontier.