In a significant escalation, Ukrainian forces have claimed a successful strike on a Russian S-300 missile system within Russian territory using Western-supplied weapons.
Ukrainian government minister Iryna Vereshchuk shared a post on Facebook featuring a picture purportedly showing the targeted missile system engulfed in flames. “It burns beautifully. It’s a Russian S-300. On Russian territory. The first days after permission to use Western weapons on enemy territory,” Vereshchuk stated.
This development follows closely on the heels of US President Joe Biden’s decision to permit Ukraine to conduct limited strikes within Russian territory near Kharkiv, after European nations eased restrictions on the use of their supplied weapons.
While it remains unclear if the specific weapons used in the strike were supplied by the US, Ukraine’s persistent requests to strike targets on Russian soil with American weapons have finally been partly fulfilled. This move is aimed at countering Moscow’s aggressive actions, which include aerial and ground assaults on Kharkiv, and utilizing Russian soil as a safe haven for regrouping and storing weapons.
The US has imposed stringent conditions on this permission. Ukraine can only target areas around Kharkiv and is not allowed to use the long-range ATACMS missiles, which can reach up to 300 kilometers (nearly 200 miles). Instead, Ukraine is limited to using shorter-range GMLRS missiles, with a range of about 70 kilometers (around 40 miles).
Military analysts have lauded the decision but have cautioned against expecting it to be a game-changer. Franz-Stefan Gady of the International Institute for Strategic Studies explained that these cross-border strikes with GMLRS will enable Ukraine to disrupt Russian operations by targeting staging areas, command centers, and supply depots. Mathieu Boulegue from Chatham House described the policy change as a “steroid” for Ukraine’s defense rather than a complete game-changer.
This shift in strategy comes amid ongoing Ukrainian strikes using Western weapons on territories claimed by Russia, such as Crimea, annexed in 2014. Notably, Ukraine has employed UK-supplied “Storm Shadow” missiles in these operations. The new permissions for strikes on Russian soil are expected to enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities, particularly in the embattled Kharkiv region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has praised the decision, calling it a “step forward” that will significantly aid in defending Ukraine against Russian aggression. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued stern warnings about the potential “serious consequences” of such actions, particularly for smaller nations.
The US joins other European countries, including the UK, France, and Germany, in lifting this specific restriction, marking a notable shift in the ongoing conflict dynamics.
