Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to utilize certain US-manufactured weapons across a segment of the Russian border.
This decision aims to bolster Kyiv’s defense against an offensive targeting Kharkiv, relaxing a significant restriction on Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.
“The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them,” a US official stated.
Despite this change, restrictions on the use of US long-range weapons, such as the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), will continue.
“Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of ATACMS or long-range strikes inside of Russia has not changed,” the official added.
This policy adjustment primarily allows Ukrainian artillery, supplied by the US, to target Russian batteries across the border from the Kharkiv region, which have severely impacted Ukrainian defenses around Kharkiv city.
Additionally, it enables Ukraine to strike Russian force concentrations in Russia’s Belgorod region.
Biden’s decision followed advocacy from European allies, including the UK, Germany, France, and NATO’s secretary general, for Ukraine to utilize Western-supplied weapons against military targets in Russia.
The White House also faced pressure from bipartisan supporters of Ukraine in Congress.
In response, Vladimir Putin warned of “serious consequences” if Russia is struck with Western weapons.
The policy shift commenced shortly after Russia initiated its new offensive in Kharkiv.
According to sources familiar with the decision, Ukrainian officials appealed during a secure video conference on May 13 with US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, defense secretary Lloyd Austin, and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Gen Charles Brown.
Austin, Brown, and Sullivan then recommended the change, and Sullivan presented the proposal to Biden on May 15.
Biden consented on the condition that Ukrainian use of US weapons across the border would be focused on forces directly attacking them.
After consulting Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who had just returned from Kyiv, the administration fine-tuned the policy to minimize unforeseen consequences.
“I think the immediate change is that Ukraine will be able to use HIMARS [High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems], which means they can strike targets more effectively at greater depths,” said Rob Lee, a senior fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Eurasia program.
Ukraine has recently faced increased artillery losses along the Kharkiv frontlines, likely due to operating closer to the front and being targeted by Russian Lancet loitering munitions, according to Lee.
The authorization to use HIMARS enables Ukraine to target Russian artillery, multiple rocket systems, UAV teams, Lancet loitering munitions teams, electronic warfare systems, and command and control posts.
“It’s not clear we’re going to see a change on the frontlines in Kharkiv.
But it will make it more difficult for Russia to continue offensive operations in that direction.
So it will make it easier for Ukraine to defend Kharkiv,” Lee noted.
Early Friday, Russian forces shelled a five-story apartment building in Kharkiv, causing a fire and injuring eight people, with local officials warning that residents might be trapped under rubble.
Several subsequent strikes were reported in the area following the initial attack.
“A fire has broken out. People could be under the rubble,” stated Oleh Syniehubov, the regional governor, about the attack that occurred around midnight local time.
The Biden administration believes that the resumption of US arms supplies in late April, following the end of congressional opposition from Republicans, combined with US defensive advice, has helped slow Russian progress.
Officials think the new policy on US weapon usage will help halt the offensive altogether.
